ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

MY COMPETITION ENTRY

I've tried to please the judges with my rhyme
and make a careful strict consistent metre.
It's hard to match the words for every time
that judges will be pleased to see a rhyme.
And they consider it a dreadful crime;
inserting substitutions in the metre.
I'll try to do what judges want in rhyme,
and stick to careful strict consistent metre.

Goodonya Neville,

Nice to see I am not the only one who struggles when writing something to please 'the judges'. Maybe what we are doing wrong is just that! Trying to please the judges. Perhaps we may have more success if we try to write (like we used to do) to please ourselves instead. I'm going to give that a try. I'll get back to you..

Happy New Year.

I agree wholeheartedly. Entering 'judged' events only inhibits that which I took up writing for in the first place.

Enjoying myself.

Jim.

Great idea Zondrae ! That's why I think we can afford to be a bit flexible on our web site here, it's not a competition.

I think we can take heart from a very accomplished poet (I think it was Stephen Fry ) who said that every time he started to think and write some poetry his brain turned to cotton wool.

Morning again,

Well that worked.
Now when I said it was trying to write "for the judges" I was mainly referring to subject matter. I don't know if it is just me but a while back it appeared that most of the competitions were won by 'HORSE POEMS'. I always try to use the discipline of Rhyme & Metre when I write. (except when a little rogue creeps in and refuses to co-operate) So don't get me wrong, I am not rebelling against the rules.

Nev, mate - thanks, I went for a half hour walk around my neighbourhood and I think I have been inspired. I passed an empty school yard (it is holidays) and think I have at least two of those elusive 'good phrases' I spoke of earlier. Now to get the recorder and down load the scraps and see if a poem emerges from the skeleton of ideas. Spending too much time on Ukulele (and jigsaw puzzles) and not enough on writing lately. Slap my wrists and get back to it, I say. Oh dear, Neville, what have you done.

That is fantastic Zondrae !! wow, you've made my day,... thanks to you.

So what if you break the supposed rules. Rebel all you like at home, you don't have to show everything to the sticklers for approval.
Though I think you understand that one must get a facility in "the rules" before stretching them.

I like your term " good phrases ", I think that is where the poems come from, not necessarily from a skeleton of ideas.
And like Robert Frost said " the first line is a commitment"

Hi Neville, Zondrae Jim,
You all raise some very valid points.
As Jim said you write for the pleasure of it, the moment you stop doing that, in my opinion it's time to give it away and take up fishing or something.
Mind you I still think it's worthwhile to always be trying to improve your poems so that they better reflect what what your trying to say. Not because a it might go better in a comp (which of course it just might) but to just give you that simple pleasure of knowing you have done your best and YOU like what you've written.
And finally you write what YOU like, about what You like

Cheers and here's hoping you all have a Happy New Year

Terry

"Terrific" Terry.