ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Murrumbidgee River in NSW.
On the Banks –

On the banks - of the ‘bidgee, with blue water - flowing by
was “Hiya Barry”, and his lady, underneath - a cloudless sky.

They are travellin’ - this fair country, with a taste - for far and wide.
Now is time, to be doin’ it, while the pace - is on their side.
Makin’ for, the southern ocean, to see Apostles - standin’ there,
slowly, slowly, disappearin’- move on quickly - for your share.

On the banks - of the ‘bidgee, campin’ down - for just awhile
for serenity, for the beauty, restin’ quietly - with a smile.

©. Rimeriter. 1 June 2010.


Great Southern Ocean in Victoria.
On the Coast –

On the coast – the Southern Ocean, with Apostles – standing there
waiting for – time immemorial, solitary – in deep despair.

Once were twelve, in all their splendour – braving salted, pounding waves.
Just a few, are now remaining – the others, have become slaves.
So the might, of Mother Nature - has reduced them to just sand,
they now paint, our Aussie coastline – in a picture, great and grand.

On the coast – the Southern Ocean, with Apostles – standing there
waiting for – time immemorial, hurry now – to see your share.

©. Rimeriter. 1 June 2010
Images captured by Margaret and Barry during a Great Ocean Road sojourn.


NOTE – it needs to be read using the beat for the popsong Hiawatha.
That’s why the ‘Hiya Barry’ bit.

I wouldn't have known, I'm afraid, Jim. . Longfellow's poem " Hiawatha " is in strict trochaic tetrametre, ( eight syllables in a line, four stressed, four unstressed ) yours doesn't seem to follow that structure.

Thank you Neville for providing this information.
I certainly have no knowledge of Longfellows work, so will remove the Hiawatha reference.

The beat I chose was from a popular song some years back - title and performer not now remembered.
But I VAGUELY recall Hiawatha as a main mention, the opening line went something like -
'on the banks of a river lived a lovely indian maid'. With a break at river to initiate the beat.

Perhaps someone with better recall will assist me.

Oh right Jim, I see what you mean, my mistake, I thought you meant the poem by Longfellow.

Perhaps you meant the old song " Runnin' Bear "


There's difficulty in matching poems to song lyrics because song lyrics stretch and compress the words to fit the dominant music beat. In poetry thre is no music beat, just the rhythm of language.

Bloody TOO right mate - Runnin' Bear -.

Thank goodness people exist with better recall than I.

However, maybe it is not possible to have a good memory and be handsome as well.
Just cast your eyes to the left.
(tongue in cheek)

And it would probably be frowned upon these days to do naughty puns on the names of native people...i.e. runnin' bare.

I 'barely' understand. Just an ol' bloke with a 'broken' memory.
But I do not intend to allow my memory which still exists to altered by 'new' re-written history.

Once, just a few years back, I used a written line - ' with dark skinned natives all around ' - and was corrected for it.
So I asked the question - "Were aboriginals dark skinned when Cook arrived" ?
Which of course was the time setting.
***

Second item.
Interesting to note. A piece I put together titled 'Maggin' with Macca' was put to music and recorded on CD.
Maybe it is due to the musicians skill and/or the studio, I also have heard him perform it live, plus the fact I am most likely biased in favour, it sounds bloody good.