ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Lightning Ridge.

Opal was first collected as being pretty, colourful stones
picked up from on the surface near bleached white animal bones
close to the Queensland border near a town called Angledool,
by a woman, Mrs Ryan, after that - it was Charlie Nettleton's rule.

These fields can call the fossicker to seek a fortune still,
you need plenty of perseverance and the old-time strength of will
but you'd better take your camp gear, or at least a swag
because back there in the early days it was just a hessian bag
to provide some with their comfort, or at the least, some ease,
but the modern times adventurer is bloody 'ard to please.

So continue your exploring, there is a place to rent
it 'as some creature comforts that's if you're intent
to visit this piece of history, this dusty outback town,
learn about it's reputation, why some never wear a frown.

(c). Rimeriter. 10/9/07.
Revised and Translated from WriteNow 11/11/07.

Looks ok to me Jim Just a Bit BIIIIIIIG


Bob

I wanted to be an opal miner when I was young. Had a lot of books
by Ion Idriess and others, "Lightning Ridge", "Opals and Sapphires" come to mind.
Did some sapphire scratching around Inverell and got out to Lightning Ridge but didn't go mining
for a living. This looks like a "handyman special".
Thanks Jim.

Thanks Jim
That gave me a trip down memory lane. Accommodation at Lightning Ridge in particular, as I worked (laying concrete blocks) on the building of the first two motels at the Ridge.
The first was the Black Opal opposite the Diggers Rest hotel (sadly no longer there) and the other was up on the next corner. That was 1969 and back then the assortment of dwellings had to be seen to be believed. It was a time of my life that I really enjoyed, so many characters and so many yarns! And plenty of booze . The funniest event though was when we had an Emu stick his head in the cement mixer, I jest you not , it was true One of the funniest things That I have ever witnessed!
I wrote a poem about it and will put it up.
I did put it up on the old site a few years back and it was amazing how many members had some sort of association with the Ridge.

Ron

I'm a bit puzzled Jim, since you have posted scathing comment about free verse I wondered why you have posted here what looks to me like free verse ?

Neville what are you smoking Every line rhymes

Love the photo Jim - but would hate to have to live in that cottage. Way back then corrugated iron must have been as good as sliced bread is today. Stick something between it and slap it together and hey presto - instant house, shed, whatever. Bet it was hot in summer and cold in winter though.

I've never been to the ridge but you are right - as I also know lots of people who have, but most just as tourists

Cheers

Maureen

Free verse Maureen, is verse with no regular METRE. Free verse can have rhyming words, though usually not. Ogden Nash wrote verse with long , "free" or prose lines ending in rhyming words. Les Murray also writes "free verse " with rhyming schemes.
The difference between free and other verse is in the metric construction not the rhyming scheme.

I just wondered how come it is done this way, since we are to understand that bush poetry is emphatically defined as rhyme AND METRE.

I've been to Lightning Ridge. It's a very interesting place. An interesting photo there too. I'm sure that Lightning Ridge is an excellent theme for bush poetry.

p.s. capitals for emphasis not shouting.

I don't have a problem with it Nev, Jim has a style all his own and I can see how he has tried to get it " Right " with Metre !


We may not always succeed with perfect rhyme and metre but can only keep trying.


Bob