Homework 18.11.2019

[Neville Briggs]

SPRING IN OZ


Among the dry leaves,
dark limb jacarandas bloom,
spreading a carpet
of thick fluoro lilac pile.
It's almost time of year's end.

The eucalyptus shed
their bark like moulting snakes.
Faced with the future
of time and chance for burning
they must stay , in the hard times.

[Maureen K Clifford]

That is lovely Neville and certainly fits for this time of year when the Jacaranda's are sharing their glorious blooms. Nicely crafted

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks Maureen A bit of Waka (or Tanka if you like).

[Shelley Hansen]

Excellent, Neville. I really like the way you have painted the scene with such an economy of words.

[Catherine Lee]

Yes, a beautiful picture Neville - I really miss seeing the jacaranda in bloom. This is lovely

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks Shelley Thanks Catherine.

I think that economy of words is one of the identifying marks of poetry. If that is what I aim for then I fear that I won't fit into the bush poetry scene , when I look at recent winners of bush poetry competitions they are all very long narrative works.

[Maureen K Clifford]

That is true Neville, most are but not always the case. I personally think it more difficult to write a good tanka or haiku because of the paucity of words. Each word has to punch above its weight and you always seem to achieve that goal.

[Terry]

Nice Neville,
But there's nothing wrong with bush poetry either as long as it's well written with a good story.
I agree with you on one thing though, some poems are far too long - it's got to be a very good poem to go more than say 40 lines in my opinion.
These days the only thing I seem to be writing are short homework poems - just haven't got the time at the moment for anything else.

Cheers

Terry

[Shelley Hansen]

Horses for courses I suppose, Neville.

I agree with Terry - no point in blathering on for ever if you have said what you need to say. But then some stories are more involved and need the extra length to do them justice.

Regardless of length or lack of it, a good poem Is a good poem.

Cheers
Shelley

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks for the comments, Maureen, Terry, Shelley.