ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Abode of the Grecian, Ern

Now here’s a tale of the Grecian, Ern,
Whose fortunes soon were to take a turn
For Ernesto spent more than he could earn
So this spendthrift Greek would a lesson learn.

He was only fifty when he retired,
Now his pension’s halved and the plan’s backfired
For his country’s credit has just expired
And his house has been by the banks acquired.

Yes Ernie the Greek has lost his home,
Thank the Euro socialist left syndrome;
Who’s next to be written in the tome
Of such disasters - Madrid or Rome?

But Ern’s been living on borrowed time,
Turns out his home loan was sub sub prime;
A mountain of debt too steep to climb
But austerity Ernie declares a crime.

He’ll vote for the party that will not pay
The money they owe ‘till their dying day
For reneging on debts is Ernie’s way
And he’ll tear up the contract without delay.

They’ve impressive ruins and fine statues
But beware of Greeks bearing IOUs;
When you ask for payment they may refuse
And if they won’t pay then we all will lose.

Now Ernie the Aussie, the Greeks he mocks
But the only difference is he’s got rocks
Full of gold and iron to inflate his stocks
But the Aussie Ern should pull up his socks.

For Australian houses are dear as hell
And our debt is excessive here as well
If commodities crash Ern may have to sell.
Greek tragedies may be a warning bell.

© Dennis N. O'Brien, 2012

Ernesto is name from the Romance languages ( Italian or Spanish ) I would be surprised if you found any Greeks called Ernesto.

Apart from that, though, it's a pretty clever poem, Neville, you have to admit. Well done, Dennis!

I keep thinking of the Elgin Marbles. Maybe if they put the marbles in the ern things would be a lot better.

Warnings sound. Behold those far bells.
Ev'ry day, their debit dar bells.
No use jogging, lifting bar bells.
Give Ern back his Elgin Mar Bells.

Stephen Whiteside wrote:Apart from that, though,

There's no "apart from that" I'm afraid. It's a matter of being cruel to be kind, that little glitch has killed it stone dead.

I think this is an issue ( symbolism ) in which we have to be precise.
It has been said that poems are made from words not ideas. This one depends on the pun in the title and the pun is not working.
Yes you could have a Greek called Ernesto, it's just that, as I read it, the name is symbolic and I can't see how you can have a symbol referring to Greeks, if the symbol is not Greek.

I'll make a constructive suggestion : consider a change of pun to : Grecian earn ". That has plenty of possibilities for a satire on the Greek economy.

I thought that this site was dedicated to poetry and that discussion and debate about poetry was part of the action. I also assume that symbolism is a part of poetic expression, hence my comments.

No, I'm with you Marty. I don't think symbolism is really an issue here. There are plenty of Australians called Dimitri, and the Grecian urn/Ern is too good to pass up.

Grecian earn? Yes, I agree, it has possibilities, but it is a verb, not a noun, the added 'a' is a bit of a distraction - reduces the impact a bit - and it still doesn't preclude the other - better - pun.

Neville, I think it is entirely reasonable for you make the judgement you have, but I don't think you can judge on behalf of others also, which I get the feeling you are trying to do here. You are not in a position to make some sort of a universal ruling. If the pun works for me and Marty - and Dennis, too, obviously - then we are quite entitled to our opinions also.

I'll leave it alone.