ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Weep For Our Country

Weep for our country, weep for what’s lost,
the lack of compassion,
the line that’s been crossed.

Weep for our country, weep for the poor,
the sick and the ageing,
and what they’ll endure.

Weep for our country, weep for the young,
so many abandoned,
their songs left unsung.

Weep for our country, weep for the past,
the dreams that are shattered,
the hope that won’t last.

Weep for our country, weep for us all,
political dogma
now holds us in thrall.

Weep for our country, weep in despair
at cynical, callous
deception laid bare.

Weep for our country, weep as we must
for equity’s failure,
erosion of trust.

Weep for our country, weep loud and clear
for reason, not conflict,
for wisdom, not fear.

Weep for our country, weep for a land
where truth is corrupted,
a house built on sand.

Weep for our country, weep for its heart,
and work with a passion
to forge a new start.

© David Campbell 20/05/14

That's something a bit different. Sort of a country song feel ? with the repeated phase, like a round or a fugue maybe.

Stirring stuff and nicely done - a poignant lament

It sounds like a call to arms and the repeat of the "weep" gives it strength and conviction. I imagine a march with more and more people falling in behind and the chant getting louder and louder. Eureka springs to mind. Yep, I like it.

Heather

Thanks Matt, Maureen and Heather. Didn’t really think of it in any particular way, Neville…I just wanted to say something and liked the strength of the repetition combined with the three-line structure. The basic idea came from Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country, a 1948 novel set in South Africa with inequality and injustice as one of its themes. Here’s a telling quote:

“Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that's the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing. Nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him if he gives too much.”

Cheers
David

I like the structure too David and I think the poem gathers strength immediately when it strides out boldly with a defiant "weep" as the first word.

Using a strong word as the first word of line can give a poem a defiant or challenging sound. I can recall one other poem that has that same effect - "With a Ribbon In Her Hair" by Matt and I remember it for that reason. Not sure if it's posted here or not. I think Lawson did it too but can't remember any off hand and don't have my books with me at the moment.

Heather

Yes Heather, it seems fairly unusual to put a strong stress on the first word but, as you say, it can give a poem a challenging sound. Lawson used it in Middleton's Rouseabout. I've tried it a few times, including one short poem (below), which also uses repetition.

Cheers
David

Grief

Do you hear it, do you hear it, sighing,
in the stillness of the night, the crying?
On the wind the sound of voices comes,
keening with the throb of muffled drums.

Do you see it, do you see it, gliding,
like a phantom in the shadows, hiding?
In the turn of moments it is there,
always out of reach beyond my prayer.

Do you fear it, do you fear it, weeping,
in the velvet darkness while you’re sleeping?
In my dreams the torment never dies;
trapped within my heart its echo lies.

Do you feel it, do you feel it, burning,
through the swirling mists of time, the yearning?
Though the years may pass and anger fade,
still it cuts so deep, that silent blade.

Can you bear it, can you bear it, mourning,
for what’s lost with each day’s brand new dawning?
Green now cloaks the bones of blackened trees,
ashes scattered by a careless breeze.

© David Campbell 2010

I think I remember you reading that one at a tutorial that you and Stephen ran in Melbourne that i attended.

Heather

Yep, checked back through my notes and you're right. The workshop was in 2011. Your memory is better than mine!

Cheers
David

Interesting that we're discussing the form rather than the politics. Possibly not a bad idea, though I can't imagine too many ABPA members would be great supporters of the most recent Budget. Perhaps we're just sick of all politics. I know I am.