I'm a bit bushed.

[DollyDot]

Hi All

This is not directly related to poetry being 'Bush' or not 'Bush' but may have a tenuous connection in some way. Folk like me, raised in the City, though we never thought of it as the city as it was one of the outer suburbs of Townsville, at the time and kind of complete in itself are like in between neither city slickers or bushies. We had some of the things that country people had chooks, cows, a horse a goat etc. I had a touch of the bush when my sister married and lived on an isolated cattle property and we visited often. Such a wonderful place to holiday with our young kids. I still feel though that I can only write about the things I feel and I know even if I do not do it very well. I love doing it. Now for my point which is neither here nor there but as I read Neil's post and I [quote Finished most of the festivals etc. and now heading up to relax and enjoy myself in Charters for the Winter]
All the old folk, my Mum and Dad and so forth always called Charters Towers "The Towers" and they would say, 'Mrs So and So lived on the Towers'. Most of my generation often say 'the Towers' now as well and as kids we called it Charlie's Trousers. I guess my point is when you have 'lived' what you write about it shows. Just found this interesting as I am interested in the analogy of Language.
Just recently, I had an eighty year old lady laugh at the words 'A gay and manly lad was he' from the poem The Stockman's Tale, when I recited it. I thought that strange as I see the word as ridgy/didge and rather quaint in the context. Anyway it's all interesting. Just another point of view.

Cheers

Dot

[keats]

Haha. Yes point taken Dot, although you really don't want to know what we make reference to The Towers as down where I reside. lol

Neil

[DollyDot]

Hi Ya

No doubt you'll tell me. Look forward to seeing you and Colleen up north. Our mob are very excited about Townsville. The weather is beaut at the moment!

Cheers
Dot

[Hully]

Hi All - a good post to stumble across...and in reading it all, many places I would like to interject, so this may seem a bit scrambled....

Firstly, Bush - The one-time Western Lands Commissioner, Geoff Wise tells a story about being on the Hay Plains, and an old bloke staring out across the flat saying "Its the edge of civilisation, and I'm not sure which way it goes"....Geoff expanded that sentence into a whole philosophy about the bush or the outback - in short, it was the difference between low population areas (i.e 'bush') where people will tend to draw on each others strengths in order to get by - lend a hand, share a resource, assist and care about your neighbour, because the neighbours and resources are few and there is an inherent understanding that we will all need each other in some way at some time - so we capitalise on each other's strengths - whereas in more populated areas, we capitalise on each other's weaknesses - dog eat dog, push and shove, strive to get ahead - because we need each other less then our individual rather than collective selves become more important - so 'the edge of civilisation' may be a line that is drawn somewhere based on population or density....' but I'm not sure which way it goes'....I always thought that was interesting.....

As far as the thread goes, I have to agree with you Neville. The 'poetry' is the important bit in the bush poetry - and that aint meter and rhyme - in one short verse of Shakespeare (Polonius' soliloquy to Laetres in Hamlet ) these great lines occur "Give thy thoughts no tongue", "the apparel oft proclaims the man", neither a borrower nor a lender be", to thine own self be true"....these are immortal words which exist still in our modern language - just like 'of mice and men'....and all in a passage that is certainly shorter than some of the poems posted here (by myself included)....and yes it is a great writer, but why not strive for greatness?? - why bother with mediocrity?? - I mean, seriously, what's the point?? - there is great, great writing out there - plenty of it - what do our efforts contribute?? - who do we inspire? .... And I am not saying 'don't bother' - quite the opposite - I am saying STRIVE ! ! - find EXCELLENCE !! - improve our lot ! - Why not write some immortal lines??....can we think no further than what will get a chuckle at the pub ? ...really??....

As far as audiences go I think its a different argument - but the principle can apply - is it better to write one perfect, inspirational line and show it only to one person than to dribble out reams of doggerel to the masses....???....I don't know - its probably an ego thing more than anything else....I know which I would choose.... plastic sliced Kraft cheese outsells fine blue cheese but which is better??....the question is, would you rather have your epitaph read :- 'he is responsible for sliced cheese that everyone knows' - or 'he worked quietly away his whole life on perfecting a gorgonzola that he hoped would be a rare delight'....

BTW Neville, I must agree with your other point about the lack of poetry postings - from my infrequent visits I would say that you are an eager critic, regular advisor, avid contributor - but do you have some poetry that reflects or demonstrates your comments that you could post for us ?? - I keep looking....

Anyway - that's enough from me - just a quick check to make sure no-one missed out.....yep, that should have upset everyone....

cha

h

[Neville Briggs]

I take your point Hully. ( I think I know the point Yes I have a bit to say, if you look at my posts you will see that I have frequently said that my sermons are aimed at me as much as anyone and also I have said that I struggle to reach the standards that I believe should be aimed for.
Hopefully if I criticize it is in the spirit of analysis for constructive and encouraging advice, and the person who gets the harshest criticism from me is me.

If I have to wait until I am a high achiever before I make comments then I'm afraid I'll have to give up commenting.

I've got several that I am trying to work up at the moment but it takes time.

[Neville Briggs]

Don't be too sure Marty

[Bob Pacey]

Pop one of them purple pills Nev always brings them up quicker ???


Nev your comments apart from one I can recall are always constructive and I'm sure most appreciated.


Cheers Bob

[Hully]

I agree Neville - DON'T STOP ! !.....I am asking for MORE not less ! !....

I applaud your bravery and vigil in challenging us to make better work - I just want to see some of yours ! !

....and stay AWAY from the little purple pills.....

h

[Stephen Whiteside]

I feel I should play devil's advocate a bit, Neville.

I'm not sure I agree with you.

Conscious efforts to sound 'poetic' are, I feel, going to fail. I think you should just write want you want to write, and let everything else look after itself. The important thing is that you care about what you are writing, or write what you care about. Passion. That's the thing. Nothing else much matters. A sense of engagement with your subject matter.

If it comes out as a simple yarn, or a joke, or a bit more philosophical, or something that sounds more literary, so be it. That is all of secondary importance. The important thing is to feel some emotion - some strong emotion - while you are actually writing. It might be happiness. It might be sadness. It might be fun. It might be painful. It doesn't matter. As long as you feel something while you are actually writing, everything else will look after itself. Conversely, of course, if you concern yourself with style ahead of substance, it probably won't work.

[Terry]

I agree with you Stephen write with passion and the rest will come by itself
and with experience your poetic skills will slowly evolve over time as well.

Terry