ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

MATESHIP


It was a cold mid-winter's day;
the day my father died,
and bleak the chill that seemed to fill
the empty space inside.
My mate called up to say some things
he thought would give some comfort.
With hesitant and common words,
a cliché; his best effort.

He wasn't one of those who speak
in eloquence and power,
who make a mark and be the sign
of an historic hour.
My mate just had a mind to be supportive, nothing more.
And no-one else need know or hear
or judge his utterance poor.

Mandela, Churchill, Wilberforce,
Ang San Suu Kyi. we've heard.
Gough Whitlam, Menzies, so admired,
all craftsmen of the word.

But;

The greatest speech I ever heard,
my mate gave me that day;
a word to give encouragement,
said in a stumbling way.

That is beautifully put Neville. Sometimes a simple word, a hug or a hand on the shoulder says it all.

Heather

From the heart Neville and beautifully put...friendship is priceless and doubly precious because it is freely given

G/day Neville,
Well done, I particularly liked the first two sentences of the first stanza, great stuff.

Cheers Terry

Neville well said
Some time a mate just has to stand next to you quietly and that says it all.

Dave Smith.

Thanks everyone for the encouraging replies. It's an old one that I've re-posted.
We've been having a bit of a discussion about eloquence so I was reminded of this occasion
that made an unforgettable impression on me.

Have you ever noticed sometimes how a person whose main language is not English, somehow seems to be make a very powerful impression with their limited English vocabulary.
A lesson to be learned there I think.

Heartfelt catharsis Nev ...
Some redundancy in the third stanza (you can work it out)
but eloquent in it's simplicity ...

Manfred.....I'm not a fan of Gough but as a speaker he was very very good, he was a master of the incisive word. Other than that..hmmmm.
And Menzies was famous for his ability to verbally cross swords with interjectors, especially in the old days of campaigning in public meetings.