An Anzac Reflection

[Neville Briggs]

Good point David.

[Gary Harding]

Gidday Neville,

OK, I apologise but my loose term "bush cadence" is not meant to be deep and meaningful. I just feel that a true bush ballad (as per ABPA) should have a steady and fixed rhythm. As you know, there are valid exceptions to this rule.. mixed metre typically.... and I have written in this style before... but those poems alas never seem to win much acclaim, even if traditional in form.

Can I illustrate with the start of a lengthy poem I wrote about a horse race :

"A smart dappled colt with black withers,
And patches of grey on his back.
A firm line from head to his shoulder,
Was Legion the prince of the track."

Now that sets the rhythm or "cadence". It simply cannot comfortably change. One is stuck with it throughout the poem.

But the rough poem "An Anzac Reflection" is all over the place. Inconsistent. So it cannot be rattled off. Yet it CAN be read well with skill. The beats to the bar are correct.

I have a Huge (mostly read) non-fiction Military book collection. Also a small collection of recipe books. Neither collection inspires me to write using their subject matter as a base for a "bush" poem. Edward Harrington touched a little on war, in a nicer way, but then he was.. THERE.

... personally I prefer pastoral material. The Bush. The real and perhaps vanishing traditional Australia. Its Values. Mateship. Drovers. Swagmen. Nature.

More than enough material there still! ... which I will stick to from personal preference... and as can be seen by the contributions here on the forum.... lots of great Humour too!

[Gary Harding]

That's very interesting David,

I believe writing about subjects such as Long Tan, Afghanistan and Iraq would very challenging and a successful result would deserve acclaim!

Graham Fredriksen, Heather, Brenda, Brian Bell, Allan Goode, Tom McIlveen, Ron Stevens, and of course David Campbell. If those Very Accomplished poets have tackled it then I have to admire them!!

Although I am a military book buff as I said, other than (in An Anzac Reflection) alluding to the suffering of a bush wife who lives in constant hope of her husband returning and she ends up as a ghost that waits forever, that is as close to writing on the real subject as I care to be. As a military collector that might seem a contradiction... but then again maybe I have read too much about it ... it's a personal thing really I suppose.

War is just not a comfortable poetic subject for me personally. If all the above well-known and famous poets have no problem tackling it, they deserve congratulations I think.

So I confess to taking the cowardly and easy path and staying with good old bushrangers, shearers and swagmen.

.... you mention your publication Award Winning Bush Verse and Stories 2013

I have looked it up and it appears to get excellent reviews!!! So I have ordered a copy on-line. Cannot allow such good works not to be in my humble library! Well done.

[David Campbell]

You should enjoy the book, Gary...there's a range of poets and poetry, including contributions from several well-known names connected to this site.

War isn't a comfortable subject for me, either, but my father fought in New Guinea on the Kokoda Trail so there is a strong emotional attachment, particularly when it comes to the impact of war on families, as illustrated in your poem. There is a constant conflict between respectfully honouring those who have served on behalf of their country, and remaining mindful of the many people for whom occasions like Anzac Day must be an absolute nightmare. There are those who want to forget what happened to them or a loved one, but can't. And those reminded that they have been largely forgotten, particularly the sick (PTSD sufferers, for example) and maimed. And, of course, conscientious objectors, the subject of Red, the poem I wrote for Maureen's homework exercise. I don't write so much about war itself...books like Les Carlyon's The Great War cover that all too graphically...but about the consequences.

David

[Maureen K Clifford]

Wish I had been able to access this poem Gary prior to the latest publication of my online mag - it would have definately been in there had you allowed it. It's a great story -well told.

Not trying to deflect from your thread at all but in answer to Nevilles point and agreeing with David's comment - the current issue of TAT poetry is 98% Australian content, being our Remembrance Day issue, and you will find nearly every war has been covered by our poets in it.


It is such a shame that we don't seem to learn from our own history or the history of others that war has no winners. I am just glad our troops are coming home this Christmas, but the aftermath of that latest conflict will be around for a long time.

I'm very much enjoying reading your work Gary - keep it coming.

Cheers

Maureen

[alongtimegone]

There's been a lot of discussion and analysis of your poem Gary, and that's good. You have acknowledged the help this gives you and that too is good. I'd just like to tell you I enjoyed reading it.
Wazza

[Gary Harding]

Thanks Wazza! I think a lot of the discussion here has centred around the thread of nobly perpetuating (through poems) the sort of things we associate so respectfully with Rememberance Day, Nov 11th.

I have had so much FUN since being on this fascinating ABPA forum!

Met many wonderful and remarkable people who share a common interest... all in a short space of time... plus received help, kindness and encouragement to keep trying my best to write bush poetry.

People who share a real love of Australian Bush Poetry... reading it, and writing too... just have to be the absolute best and most genuine folk, in my opinion.

As you would appreciate, it takes some nerve to submit a poem for the scrutiny of so many Expert eyes... but.. so far so good! thanks again!