ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Poetry Slammin

I entered in this poetry slam
Two minutes all you get
Ah the competition will be tough
My biggest challenge yet.

But I'm really not a slammer
So I tried to change my style
And get some beat into my poetry
Throw away that country style.

Cause slam was born in city streets
Not some outback country town
So if I started spruiking bush verse
The judges are sure to frown.

I listened to some doff doff music
Just to try and get a little beat
Learnt how to hold my fingers
And to shuffle my big feet.

I found some poetry on the Internet
but that really was a strain
the thumping kept repeating
and it nearly blew me brain.

I tried to shorten up my verse
Get inspiration from the street
But I found no matter how I tried
The rhythm had me beat.

And I was gonna wear a new hat
Ya know the kind that gangsters wear
Or get some body piercings
Put some colour in my hair.

Buy some of those low cut jeans
Show off me underdak
I'd wear the bloody things so low
When I bend you'd see my crack.

I brought a holey tie die shirt
from Saint Vinnies near my place
but it felt so strange I threw it out
Mate I wasn't in the race.

So when it came down to the crunch
To change I wasn't game
I'll always be a bushie mate
yeah I'll always sound the same.

So here I am in my Akubra hat
and my old vest that fits the bill
Cause I'm just an old bush poet
So you judge me as you will.

Bob Pacey (c)

Indeed Bob, trying to be something you are not, is a dead end.

I have been to one poetry slam, they had a variety of offerings including a bush ballad type.

Some of the bush poetry events have a similar thing with two minute verse or something like that. e.g. Dunedoo.
My own view is that it would be good to include the short verse in these bush poetry comps, it saves the comp from becoming a memorising test and requires people to make every word count, no room for waffle in a two minute verse.

Hi Bob & Neville
Slams are very popular over here at our festivals, but you only get 1 minute and are gonged out if you go over.

Terry

Bob is in da house!!!!