A CHANGING OF THE TIMES

[Terry]

THE DEVIL MADE ME WRITE THIS

A CHANGING OF THE TIMES MATES

Do you sense that things are changing mate and moves are on the way?
Are we really all that boring now, just like some people say?
Has the bush now lost its magic mate except for you and me?
will our past be now forgotten; we will have to wait and see?

Will you feel the sadness I’d feel mate, if changes came about?
Will we see an end to rhyming and then phase all rhythm out?
And have people now forgotten mate just What we used to be?
Is the writing on the Wall now for the likes of you and me?

Is it time you put the pen down mate; I guess that’s up to you?
Should we hang on to the old ways or now look for something new?
Will the bush yarns soon be gone mate is the finish now in sight?
Will the end come that much sooner if we’re not prepared to fight?

T.E.P

[Leonie]

Nice one Terry, you little devil you.

I'm another one with a strong preference for bush poetry although I do read the occasional 'other' poem that I also enjoy. The trouble from my point of view is that there is so much 'other' stuff out there that finding the occasional rose among the thorns just isn't worth the trouble of going out looking. There are a gazillion poetry sites out there that cater for free verse but not many that cater exclusively for bush poetry and while I guess that makes us seem a little parochial it is probably why we get defensive about the ones we do have.

Will rhythm and rhyme die out completely? I don't think so. I do wonder about the 'bush' tag though. Like Marty says, our poetry these days is not just about the bush.

[Terry]

G/day Marty & Leonie

I think you're right, Bush (or rhyming) Poetry will be with us for a long time yet.
And I also agree that Bush poetry is about any form of rhyming poetry with good rhythm, be it of the past, the present or the future.
There will always be some pushing for change, everything's like that.
As for the name Leonie, to me it's a link to our past a bit like our flag and some people want to change as well, so why change it. Is it because some people feel the name isolates them in some way because they have little contact with the bush, I don't know. What I do know is that more people than ever are getting out to remote areas, you can't escape the blighters.
To a lot of Australians there's still something almost mythical about our bush, it's part of our heritage I guess.
As I said before I don't really care what people write, but let's not be too hasty with change, and end up throwing the baby out with the bath water.
I bet Neville's chuckling away somewhere, whistling 'Mission Accomplished'

Terry

[Dave Smith]

Leonie, Terry and every body, I agree that Bush Poetry is no longer strictly about the bush but the name is synonymous with the style of poetry most of us are writing and the name keeps us in touch with the old masters who of course wrote bush poetry.

If you think about rhythm and metre (are they the same thing?) our whole being is controlled by rhythm from our heart beat right through to that fact that we even walk in time. When walking with other folk we tend to match our pace, something to think about.

TTFN

[Leonie]

I'm not suggesting we change the name of our poetry. I know it is traditional, probably. Did Banjo and co. describe their writing as 'bush' poetry? It was more a thought about how newcomers to poetry might see that tag. I wonder do they think 'bush' is only about the bush and doesn't really apply to them if they live in the city? Just thinking aloud really, personally I couldn't give a rats.

As for the flag, well ... I don't think I want to go there.

[Maureen K Clifford]

I like it Terry - it says a lot encapsulated in a few words. Agree with the comments made as well...might be that Bush Poets become like the Dinosaurs extinct, but folks these days still have a fascination with the dinosaurs so they are not forgotten.

I love our flag and don't really see the necessity to change it but were we to do so this is my favourite

[Terry]

G/day Leonie,
I knew what you meant and agree with what you're saying, but probably didn't do a very good job of replying.
I don't know what Banjo and Co called theirs back then, probably just poetry, as there may not have been this much free verse etc. like there is to-day.
Like you I don't worry too much about a name, but do wonder if now that the brand (so to speak) is so well accepted, we mightn't lose a bit of recognition if we changed it now, and would a different name really help much anyway. It's an interesting point.

Cheers Terry

[Terry]

G/day Maureen & Dave,

Good thoughts all around there, I'm guessing most of us think along similar lines.

Maureen, I hadn't seen those flags before, very striking, are they you own design?

I suspect though that changing the flag will cause a lot of angst, but will probably happen eventually. With more and more people coming here from overseas, I suppose it's only a matter of time before we become a republic.

Cheers Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Yes all mine Terry well almost...the photo I came across I have used time and time again as it has a striking resemblance to the colours and style of the aboriginal flag but is of course just a photo of a beautiful sunset and then the stars of the southern cross which of course are not ours exclusively but we all recognize them - so really it is Mothers Natures design - I just rearranged it a bit but it is pretty striking IMO - having said that though I like our existing flag

[Terry]

Maureen I have said it before, but will say it again, you are a very talented lady.

Like you, I like our present flag and would hate to see it go, (A bit like Bush Poetry) but I think I could learn to live with you flay design,
It really is quite beautiful.

Terry