From stories? I've only got so many stories, and not being an experienced bushie, I haven't got the store of bush lore that some can draw on.
I just have to try and find the extra-ordinary in the ordinary.
From reading other poetry. Certainly. I think that this is a daily dose that needs to be taken, come what may, to develop one's senses to the rhythms and colours of poetic language.
From reading instructions on poetry technique from poetry teachers. I got enough of that stuff to keep me going for some time.
From just sitting down and getting on with the job of writing, hoping something will emerge on the page. I think that is important. The famous French painter, Corot, told his students that the great secret of artistic inspiration was " take up the brush and begin "
I find one of the best inspirations for me is listening to music. Real music that is.
Last night I heard a performance by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. It's a wonderful piece of music and this orchestra played it with a verve that I have never heard before. It was Beethoven does Riverdance !
Why should this music inspire, because Beethoven, who was a master technician in the "proper rules " of music, bent the rules to snapping point to get the utmost expressiveness, he took something fairly ordinary; Scottish Folk songs and Scottish reels and turned them into a classical symphonic work of genius. He made something that had never been made before.
When the orchestra sounded the last notes of the symphony the audience burst into applause and cheers, such as you might hear at a football match. Anybody in that hall would have been unable to resist cheering I'm sure, such was the power of Beethoven's passionate composition.
It's rousing stuff. Unfortunately , my lack of ability and knowledge is a bit of a handicap, I'm no Beethoven, Robert Frost, or Henry Lawson.
Ya gotta have a dream though.
I'll give that some thought. The mind boggles. 
