ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The Bird Band

One evening walking through the scrub,
(A shortcut home from Riley’s pub)
Under the glow of a full moon
I heard a brisk and lively tune.

I looked around and there I saw
Upon that moonlit forest floor,
A pumpin’ out a chorus grand,
A finely feathered all bird band.

And all around on stumps and logs
Sat kangaroos and native dogs,
And emus swaying to the beat
Jumped up and down and stamped their feet.

Echidnas danced Irish quadrilles
While skillfully avoiding quills,
Goannas flicked in time their tongues
While in the band with bursting lungs

Black glossy red tailed cockatoos
In harmony sang out the blues.
On ukuleles magpies strummed,
A flock of honey eaters hummed.

With twelve apostles on the drums,
The beat it echoed through the gums;
While lyre birds serenely played.
(They’re known for being rather staid).

A bell bird rang his built in chime,
A whip bird cracked his whip in time,
A kookaburra with a smile
On his guitar played finger style.

I stayed a while then home to bed
With music coursing through my head.
I woke and wondered had I dreamed,
Outside my window, moonlight beamed

And all was quiet and nothing stirred,
I listened hard but nothing heard,
No not a noise of fur or fowl,
Except - the hooting of an owl.

© Dennis N. O'Brien, 2012

very good Dennis the same theme as Noel Stallards book the Animal Bush Band

Bill the old Battler

Thanks Bill. Yeah, after I wrote it I did some Google-ing to see
if anything similar had been done and came across that title but
couldn't actually find the poem.
To be honest I don't read a lot of poetry (although I'm starting to)
and haven't read any of Noel Stallard's
although I did find one on YouTube.

THE Bush Animals’ Band was a children’s Poem written by Noel Stallard and was made into a Book and Illustrated by Dave Emo the Book won the Australian Bush Laureates Award in 2009 an other children’s book by the same writer and artist was SEE What I See in the Sea.
I was fortunate to have both books signed and presented to me by both writer and artist. By the way Noel Stallard was our previous President and was a very likeable fellow who now performs as father Patrick Hardigan or correct name John Obrian


Bill the old Battler

love it Dennis it is a ripper and I reckon the little kids would thoroughly enjoy it as well. Very clever

Cheers

Maureen

_________________
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


To the home of a friend the way is never long
the welcome is always warm and the Billy always on.

This 'little kid' sure enjoyed it.

"Ta" Much.
Jim.

_________________
Writer of Rhyme havin' a Good Time.

a Backward Poet who Writes Inverse.

I've read both Dennis and saw Noel perform his at beef week, yours is more a poem where Noels is more towards a song.

A good one for the kids


Cheers Bob.

_________________
The purpose in life is to have fun.
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!

Good one Dennis, Puts me in mind of “The Drovers Dream” which was a poem before it was a song. I like them both.

TTFN

_________________
I Keep Trying

Glad you liked it Maureen and Jim and thanks to Bill
and to Bob for the info.
Dave, thanks for the pointer to "The Drover's Dream" which
I found on the internet and yes it has a similar theme.

Of course I can only record what I saw.

Good on You. Dennis.

A poetic song of the bush.

A late night extravaganza.


I enjoyed this.


John