ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Cheated using a prompt in the title

ONLY IN AUSTRALIA

The cattle grazed on stubble, masticating in the sun
when from on high a very ugly bird,
winged it’s way straight for them as they bellowed their distress –
though unbelievable, I swear to every word!

It swooped just like a maggie, steeply climbed to dive again,
it buzzed their curly heads within a hair.
Ignoring spatial boundaries it split the herd in two,
sending half into a truck awaiting there.

As one they bawled for help to come and tell them what was up,
with Bruce the bull the first one to respond,
he’d come from where ‘new fangled’ reigned, and with a haughty air,
he laughed and told them all that they’d been conned.

He told them that the ugly and repulsive screeching bird
had sent his last mob crazy from distress.
All day it swooped and teased them, it would even fly by night –
how he survived was anybody’s guess!

Such denigration of a noble breed like Hereford
Is something that a cow cannot condone,
Our Betsy hung her head in shame when she remembered the
embarrassment of Muster by a Drone!

Very clever, Wendy! Who says bush poetry doesn't keep up with times??

And what a great idea to use one of the prompts as your title!! I must remember that!

Cheers
Shelley

Couldn't see where this one one was going, Wendy, so you had me guessing until the very last line!

Cheers
David

Success! Thanks David, I thought I'd try a twist. Came out of a strange banter with my father about cattle being confused about drones. Other threads were: a battle for territory between a drone and a magpie and maybe a jury of feathered creatures trying to sought it out!!

Oh yes, Wendy, you've got plenty of food for inspiration there! I've never thought of introducing drones to bush poetry - but the potential for humorous poems is immense!

Why don't you pursue one of your threads and try one of the upcoming written comps which have a section for humorous poems. There are a couple out there:

Victorian Championships "Corryong Larrikin" - closing 10 February
Tenterfield Oracles of the Bush - closing 10 March

or if you are very quick ...

Dunedoo - closing 21 January

Cheers
Shelley

Very clever and innovative use of the prompts - Well done Wendy - You might want to fix a typo - I don't think it is a play on words - although it could be, so maybe if I am wrong then forgive me. Heard/herd ... in line 7.

Actually these little drones are causing bit of a problem in many areas - we have had some complaints at Ipswich about them being flown around the Air Base. Understandable and of course prohibited. And using a prompt as a title is in no way cheating either so don't be worried about that.

Thank you for those comp ideas Shelley....I must admit my head has been flying (sorry) off in the direction of humourous lines for a poem about the above topic. Just got to try and get them in some sort of order!
Thanks for the proof read Maureen, I am lousy at it! Will fix.
Thank you too for including me in TAT. My family think I'm famous now.

you are my lovely - your work is reaching an international audience