ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

As made mention in my intro only new to writing since late last year but heres the first 2 bits I wrote that started me off writing.

Wrote this short piece at work late at night not sure how I came to it but just developed in my mind so I wrote it and been writing stuff since.

Cowboy Escape

Take me away from this burden from this concrete misery
Take me back out bush to a sun burnt property
From city to suburb the further that I go
The stress that's built escapes me not a worry not a woe

I hit the first of country roads and smell that familiar air
The crowded streets I've left behind I do not have a care
I recall the days sitting at the window of a local city pub
Where I watched the workers pass and thought get me to the scrub

The winding bends I take as though a race
While on my mind all I think is get me to that place
Now as I sit beside the fire propped upon me bum
I look up at the stars to thank God and then grab another rum

This was my second I wrote not long after. It came to mind when I woke up and stuck in my head for a few days developing and taking form in writing.

The Ringer and the horses

The horses came thundering down along the plains
as the ringer he cursed at the fast approaching flames
the word around town was that it would be days
before the arrival of that dreaded fiery haze

The Boss had gone for a float from up around the town
While the ringer he was left to set the plans down
Panic sets in as the horses start squealing in fear
The fire has encircled and they need to get clear

He hoses down the horses as they bustle the rail
Then he turns to the fireline to create a safe trail
as the horses make the break and all start to flee
He gets a tear in his eye and his heart starts to bleed

No time to delay its time to move fast
he fires up his rig and makes to get past
The fire roars vicious as it now closes the line
The ringer must move quickly just to get out in time

As the farmer returns with the float, and pulls into the main yard
The sights that surround him bring fear, and he swallows quite hard
The horses appear in the distance, shaken not hurt
Though the rest of the land, now charred blackened dirt.

The farmer on searching had found the farm truck
The poor ringer it seems had ran out of luck
The farmer now saddened he arrived back too late
for the Ringers true kindness had now sealed his friend’s fate

Good stuff, Cryptic . . . can see your passion for the bush come through. Needs a bit of a tighten up here and there, I'd suggest you take a look at the tips on the home page by the Campbell Brothers and Glenny Palmer - like myself and others you'll find them invaluable.

Cheers, Marty

And another Rum drinker Yah bloody hoooo.

Nice stuff mate as Marty said needs a bit of tidy up. The first tool of trade i reckon is a rhyming dictionary, i call it my bible.


I'm sure if you ask for some feedback it will be forthcoming, And the best part is that it is yours to use, learn from or loose as required.



Cheers Bob

They've both got good bones, as the fellows say a bit of tightening needed and a bit of grooming and they will be show ponies... not a bad start mate.

That rhyming dictionary Bob mentioned is a great idea if you don't have one. In the interim you could use

http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi

though it is American and they talk funny so some of the words they tell you rhyme - don't - but a lot do and its as good a place as any to start. It also has the advantage of giving you the exact definition of words and a few other things.

Cheers

Maureen

Maria, in the Sound of Music had a couple of good pieces of advice.

" Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start "
" Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could "

To begin.
1. You need to find out what a line of iambic pentameter is.
2. You need to learn to write a line of iambic pentameter so that you can do the same job a hundred times with various wording. It's like the five finger exercises on the piano, or the scales on the trumpet.
3. You may not wish to bother with this.... You may not wish to write poetry.

Nothing comes from nothing.
It's great to see that you are enthusiastic and giving it a go. Please persevere.
But none of us can start with ourselves. We all need to read other poetry and see other ideas in practice in order to STEAL and turn other ideas into our ideas. Not imitate you understand.
You need to read poetry. Do football players watch football matches. I'll bet they do.

I wouldn't worry about a rhyming dictionary for a long time.

Please keep going. Don't be daunted by the likes of me. I'll help you where I can.

Look up an internet bookseller and click on the subject..how to write poetry. There are some good teachers out there.

Holy crap Neville I think you might have even scared me off with that lot.

You forgot the most important thing " Enjoy It "


Bob

Thanks for tips will be browsing site and having a read as I go. Read a few books of Lawson and a few other mixed story/poem Australiana books. Will read a few more as its mainly just a past time for me at work and at home writing stuff.
Done a few other poems that are on a different track and have picked up a bit on writing with those but they are off topic and kinda weird hehe.

There's two very good starter books on verse. The Ode Less Travelled y Stephen fry ( should be easily available ) EWriting Poetry by John Whitworth ( a bit harder to get, but very good ) or The Complete Idiots Guide to Writing Poetry ( should be available, specially applicable to me )

Why should anybody be scared of learning and developing the "craft" of poetry, Bob.

I didn't forget enjoyment. Gaining skills in a specialised art is a most fulfilling kind of enjoyment.
I'm sure that the pro golf players enjoy their games, they still have to persevere with the grind of practicing swings and putts and chips. ( some strange technical terms there, I wonder what they could mean ? )

Did I see something about five finger discounts - STEALING???

Thanks Neville will see if can find those books to take a gander at next week.
No doubt footy players probably do watch the games but I preferred playing cricket myself but I never really watched it as to be honest it can be boring as batshit sometimes haha.

Got a good bookstore down the road from me if you can climb over the mountains within to reach what your looking for so will possibly take an expedition on Monday. If you don't hear from me for a week or 2 Im either reading or have suffered a book related accident.