ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Bit of a cross between a yarn and a poem .

Fred

This wide brown land I've travelled from the west out to the sea.
And of yarns I have heard many when the beer was flowing free.
Yarns of big fish or drinking feats and of cattle caught in bogs
But I always knew the stories would at sometime turn to dogs .

I was sitting round the campfire out near Longreach once in May.
and the yarns were coming thick and fast pure bullshit one might say.
There were several who had skited about the things their dogs could do
and the tales were getting taller as the boys consumed more brew.

Yeah the boys had got to bragging but then Bluey took the floor.
He meant to lay the bet to rest and then would hear no more.
Now Bluey had a dog named Fred he'd been a gooden in his day.
But Fred was now well past his prime though none were game to say.

Old Blue had moved to town to live with Fred nigh on a year
but that old dogs urge to muster simply would not disappear.
So Bluey told the story and swore that it was true.
Though no one would dispute it even if they bloody knew.

Behind the "Welcome Home " there was a paddock no grass, just dirt and dust
and the wind was blowing all about would make a mans thirst bust.
The swirling wind picked up the dust and spun it round and round.
Till several willy willys skirted cross the hard dry ground.

Old Fred's ears instantly pricked upright as the movement he could feel
and in a flash he skirted out and round to bring this mob to heel.
In a minute flat he had them all those willys up so tight
that they turned into a whirlwind, twelve foot high and black as night.

Just then a ringer in from Jundah let out a mocking yell.
"What did ya bloody dog do then run like flaming hell ?
God struth said Blue I cannot lie for Fred was not so green
but what he did then I have to tell the likes I've not since seen.

That cunning dog had figured out the way in which the whirlwind spun
so he dove into the middle and the opposite did run.
To help to boot he wagge his tail the sight was one to see
for when Fred was finished running not a breath of air was there to be.

Now I cannot confirm the story for I was not there on the day
and Blues mates he said were with him have all long since moved away.
Old Fred had lay at Blueys feet while the yarn his master told
and he never even twitched his tail he would not be so bold.

But when Blue finished the story the old dog just heaved a sigh
and I swear when I looked down at Fred there was a twinkle in his eye.


BOB PACEY ( C )
30/12/98

Oi ! Bob .....Longreach with a capital L. They'll have your hide in the stockman's hall of infamy

Onya Nev ... Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me ... )

Bob, you could restructure this piece into simple couplets without any caesuras (breaks) wouldn't loose anything and make it easier to read in the process.

This wide brown land I've travelled from the west out to the sea
And of yarns I have heard many when the beer was flowing free.
Yarns of big fish or drinking feats and of cattle caught in bogs
But I always knew the stories would at sometime turn to dogs .

Could be Neville that it actually wasn't set at Longreach but rather the nearby place where you need a long reach to believe Freds story....pretty smart dog dog though don't you reckon?? Gotta luv those blues.

Totally agree with Manfreds comment Bob - it would smooth it out no end. Perhaps this could work

The paddock behind ' Welcome Home' had no grass just dirt and dust

which I think reads smoother than

Behind the "Welcome Home " there was a paddock
no grass, just dirt and dust

Cheers

Maureen

Thanks Nev fixed that quickly so might just have saved my neck

How does this look Manny ?

No Maureen the story was told to me over the bar at the Welcome Home Hotel. I spent six weeks out in Longreach designing and setting up the new supermarket. I was Retail Divisional Manager for Spa at the time and loved spending time out west. I went fishing in the river and learnt that when the locals say we will take a few beers with us they mean a bloody lot and they do not keep them on ice just drink em straight from the bottle HOT !

I used to go back every month on supervision visits and loved the place.


Cheers Bob

... more importantly, how does it look for you Bob??

What a great name for a Pub - must be why some of these old blokes spend more time there than they do at other places

Looks good Bob, you're redeemed. A mate of mine got into big trouble at Barcaldine when he pronounced the town name as BAR..cul..DYNE.

I got into the habit of the original set out because I find it easier to learn them if I can have several verses on one strip. I will admit it looks better and is easier to read as you suggested.


Maureen if you have never been go out to Longreach at some time. Most people think it's a lazy country town but it is quite vibrant and relies on tourism a lot. It is also the training base for police recuits so not unusual to see five patrol cars winding their way around the main street.

Thanks all Bob