ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

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."

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.

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.

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

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

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