Poet Poll

[Heather]

That is interesting re the Dawn, Stephen. Is it on Trove? I'm having net problems so can't access the link at the moment.

I've got a book here on Louisa Lawson - Henry Lawson's Crusading Mother (by Lorna Ollif). Read it a little while ago but found it disappointing because to be honest it was more about Henry than Louisa. It was a while ago but from memory it was a bit amateurish too - the sort of thing someone doing their own family history would write. I think Louisa would have been one hell of a force had she had more education and the chances that today's women get.

Heather

[Stephen Whiteside]

Brian Matthews wrote a highly celebrated book on Louisa, Heather. I think he just called it 'Louisa'. The main thing I remember from the book is that she developed - and patented -a new fastener for mail bags. I'll find out more about 'The Dawn' online for you.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, it is on Trove.

[Neville Briggs]

I think the comparison of Paterson and Lawson is interesting, especially when I consider what I believe are two of their greatest poems, Paterson's The Travelling Post Office and Lawson's Middleton's Rouseabout.

I think Paterson saw the people as bit players in the great drama of the land and nation of Australia. I think Paterson saw people as having their significance according to their place and role, and their accomplishments in the history and emergence of the nation, and that is what he set out to depict. The drover and his father in the Travelling Post Office are really rather small players sort of swallowed up in the great vista of the wide brown land with its vast mountains and plains and rivers, as they struggle to lay the foundations of the economy.

Lawson, on the other hand, was intent on examining what I might call "character" as it is revealed in individuals. Middleton and his rouseabout are revealed for the people they are, weak or strong, and in Lawson's eyes, the money, property, the fortunes of life, even their contribution to the nation building made no difference, what they were in character is what mattered in the end. For Lawson, I think that Australia was the great challenge for people of character to come to terms with, their accomplishments were second to their strength of character.

That's how I see the difference.

[Stephen Whiteside]

I think you might be onto somethere there, Neville. There is, as you imply, something detached about much of Paterson's writing. People talk about him as being a natural 'aristocrat'.

[Zondrae]

Now forgive my lack of schooling,

I haven't studied either of them in enough detail to make an informed choice. Of all the poetry I have heard recited I have come to cite Dennis as my favourite Australian Poet .. but then as I have said, my lack of study puts me in the position of not being able to make a real informed choice. Mind you I must have enough books of their writing to choke an elephant. I have told my family - no more poetry books please. So - yet another task for myself, read more. This poses another problem, there are only twenty four hours in a day.

[Terry]

It's a bit like choosing between a good red or an equally good white.

But if I have to make a choice I'd have to say Lawson, he was definitely the better writer of short stories,

Mind you there are several others who were excellent poets as well, but perhaps didn't have as many well known poems as either of those two.

Terry

[Rimeriter]

quote -I want to run a little poll here just out of interest -

I know that some people have a preference for either Lawson or Paterson so just want to see who here likes one more than the other (you may like both equally). Put your name below under the poet of your choice.

Lawson
Heather


Paterson - end quote.

[Heather]

Jim, did you just vote twice, because if you did you can't and I think that disqualifies you, i think...and both of your votes are different!

[Irene]

Will Ogilvie!!