Give Me A Minute

[Peely]

Originally submitted as a homework poem for the Illawarra Breakfast Poets. The theme that week was as per the title of the poem Being a bush poetry performer, I thought that a one minute style poem would fit the topic perfectly. I timed myself reading the poem at around the pace that I would perform it and did it in a fraction over a minute, which in this case, I thought was ideal.

GIVE ME A MINUTE
© John Peel 4/11/09

Give me just a minute and I’ll tell you all my views
about the world around me and the things that make the news.
I could talk about the life I live; my current lack of wealth;
the mental state my mind is in; the problems with my health.

I could tell you all a story how my life was in the past;
the relationship I used to have and why it didn’t last.
There are many different subjects that I could be talking on –
I’ll have to get a move on though, that’s thirty seconds gone!

Perhaps I might just spin a yarn or tell a downright lie
or maybe talk about the many things I’d like to try.
I could mention all the places that I’d really like to go
or list the famous people that I wish that I could know.

If you’re wanting my opinion then I’ll tell you what I think
about the politicians that could drive a man to drink.
A DPA is up for grabs, I reckon I can win it.
What’s that you say? I’m out of time – I need another minute!

For those that don't know, a DPA is a Distinguished Poet's Award - the prize that the Illawarra Breakfast Poets award for the best poem of the week (a small, thin flat wooden trophy that has some writing on it - Zondrae will kill me if I reveal what it really is). Emailed or forum poems, like this one, generally attract a virtual version of the trophy - though occasionally you may be lucky enough to receive the real thing.

If I ever perform the poem, I will do the second last line as: "I know a prize is up for grabs, I reckon I can win it."

[Stephen Whiteside]

Well, you've got more than a minute now. Why don't you list all the places that you'd like to go, and the famous people you'd like to meet? I'd be interested to know.

[keats]

Haha great concept on the one minute brawl mate. They have become a big hit around the festivals over the hers and looking forward to taking on the crew at the Gympie Muster again this year. That was a really good turn around on using up you 60 seconds. Well done.

[Peely]

G'day Stephen

To list a few areas I'd like to go here in Australia, I still haven't seen much of Queensland or South Australia and have never been to the Northern Territory or Western Australia - so there is plenty of the mainland that I wouldn't mind seeing. I wouldn't mind visiting New Zealand either. Once I have seen some more of those places, I might think about more of what is further a field.

Some of the dead famous people that I wouldn't have minded meeting/knowing:

Henry Lawson
Banjo Paterson
CJ Dennis
Henry Ford
Harry Ferguson (the man responsible for the little grey tractors that are still quite a common part of the farming landscape)

That is a bit of a start on those two lists anyway Stephen.

G'day Neil

Glad you enjoyed my take on it as a one-minute brawl piece. One minute brawls are good fun - I am still trying to win one myself.

Regards


John Peel

[Heather]

Now if you started brawling, you would definitely have to go to the naughty corner.

[Peely]

G'day Heather

Poetry brawls are the only sort of brawls I get myself into, and as I said, they are plenty of fun.

Regards


John Peel