ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Something a bit different.

In case anyone has trouble working out the meter, it’s supposed to be,

‘Come SIT by my CAMPfire and POUR out some TEA’ - a sort of singsong

LEND ME AN EAR

Come sit by my campfire and pour out some tea
and listen to stories while sitting with me.
I’ll take you on journeys and tell you tall tales,
of life in the outback along dusty trails.

I’ll tell you of sunsets with beauty so rare
and silence that followed for those who were there.
You’ll gaze at the stars here and marvel in awe,
then ask yourselves questions of things that you saw.

You sense the lands spirit while out there with me
and hear the night whisper of things you can’t see.
Then wake at first light as the dawn chorus sings
and bask in the glory the outback still brings.

I’ll tell you of gold finds that made the headlines
and precious red opal from Gibber Plain mines.
And mention strange stories of things that I’ve seen,
then take you to places where few have yet been.

We’ll visit some graveyards forgotten for years,
with stories of sadness and countless shed tears.
The towns that they came from are also long gone,
when gold petered out there they quickly moved on.

It’s getting quite late now and time for the sack,
tomorrow I’m moving way off down the track.
Let’s put on the billy and make a fresh brew,
I’ll tell you more stories next time I pass through.

******
© T.E. Piggott

Good one Terry.

Hmmm...Try singing it to the verse melody of The Wild Rover.

You might have a good song lyric here.

Mal

Yeah, I like it Terry, I found it easy to read.

TTFN

very enjoyable Terry I'll see if I can record it with out music and do it justice.

Regards The old battler bill

Nice.

Very nice although I didn't have the urge to sing it OK OK I did...On top of old smoky jumped into my head

Tis Christmas O'leary

Good one Terry, you had my ear.

Cheers, Marty

I was thinking more along Beethoven's Unfinished Sympathy ...

The only thing I'd suggest since YOU are taking me ...
"You’ll sense the lands spirit while out here with me" ??
Also makes the journey more personal and intimate.

It's a wonderful picture you paint Terry, Well done

Thanks everyone,

Hi Mal and thanks,
I must admit that I know nothing about song writing, but it is on my bucket list of things to try.
I've always liked this meter, it's trying to use it with the right sort of poem I guess.

G/day Dave,
I'll have to get you to have a go at singing it - a bit like 'Walking With Ghost' that time.
Cheers mate.

Hi Bill,
I'll be interested in what you make of it.

Thanks Stephen

Hi Maureen,
Alright then let's hear it.

Hi Marty thanks mate,
By the way what ear was that.

G/day Manfred,
I like your suggestion, spot on as usual,
There are a couple of other things too that could probably be improved here and there as well, just to make it flow a little better.

To tell the truth I have been trying to write a fairly serious poem using this meter and finding it pretty hard going so wrote this one yesterday to have a break from the other one.

Cheers all and thanks for the comments.

Terry

manfredvijars wrote:I was thinking more along Beethoven's Unfinished Sympathy

You won't get any sympathy ,for being a barbarian