Homework 14/10/13 (and a censorship question)

[David Campbell]

Thanks Heather, although it's not as confronting as some of my free verse pieces. And that's another point worth making.

Part of my decision-making process involves determining what style of poetry to use, and a topic like this would usually end up outside the traditional field altogether. I'd write it as free verse because it's not normally part of the bush poetry world...judging makes that very clear. But as we're so obviously prepared to use bush verse to write about the terrible reality of war, it seems perfectly reasonable to heed that Rushdie quote and shine a poetic light into other dark corners of human experience if we're so inclined...as Marty has done with his poem.

David

[Mal McLean]

You should stop self-censoring David, me thinks. That is one of the finest poems it has been my pleasure to read. It is a poem by an Australian about an issue that is relevant and controversial in Australia. It should stand well in any competition but it will probably not be favoured for the reasons already discussed here and in other threads.

Any subject is open to a poet. Those who think not would hide a light under a bushel.

But what are we talking about? The poetic expression of a horrific occurrence as opposed to the use of inappropriate language? One doesn't have to use foul language to express a horror as you have demonstrated. Use of inappropriate language may preclude a poem but if that language is in context and essential to the poem then it should also stand.

Have our readers been to Bourke, lately? There are signs in the streets and coasters in the pubs and clubs that read; Bourke says No! To Child sexual Assault. Sandwiched between the two lines are two little hands, one white and one black and on the palms are written-SEE IT STOP IT.

Some people however will put the P back in rude on every occasion and there is no helping them.

Last Sunday at North Pine I read your fine poem the B&S Ball to a great deal of amusement from the audience only to be told by one member while returning to my seat that it was "too naughty" and should not have been read.

Such is life.

Yours in verse

Mal

[Maureen K Clifford]

Good on you Mal for sharing such a fine piece of work -

"too naughty" and should not have been read.

Really!!! What the hell were they thinking about? Amusement!!! Hmmmmm - Strange reaction IMO - perhaps this was their way of coping with their own personal embarassment and hang ups about the subject, rather than the poem itself.


Reactions like that cause me to despair sometimes

[David Campbell]

Many thanks for your support of 'A Space in Time', Mal, I appreciate it very much. I may be over-reacting with my caution over content, but things keep happening that make me wonder. Back in April I received a letter from a well-known bush poet in which he wrote: "You must surely agree with me that much verse entered in competitions these days could not be described as being real bush (his underlining) poetry and therefore not in compliance with stipulated entry requirements."

Judging by other correspondence he's certainly not the only one who thinks that way, and it's quite possible that the person who objected to my pretty innocuous B&S Ball poem is also in that camp. In some quarters there still seems to be a fairly narrow interpretation of the ABPA definition of bush poetry.

But, as you say, such is life!

Cheers
David

[David Campbell]

Following on from my concern about narrow interpretations of bush poetry, it was great to open up the latest magazine (thanks, Neil!) this afternoon and see Jan Morris's Blackened Billy advertisement emphasising that bush verse has "moved into the modern era", and is much broader than "the daily problems of living in the bush".

Way to go, Jan!

Cheers
David

[manfredvijars]

Great end-rhyme choice David (hard and soft) building up to the couplet (hard) hammers the point home.
Excellent use of device.

Well done!

The social condition should never be a taboo ...

M.

[David Campbell]

Thanks, Manfred!

Just back from Benalla, where Jan Lewis and her team did a great job putting a variety of poets and musos on the stage. I was only there for part of the weekend, but the Saturday night concert, with the brilliant Geoffrey Graham as MC, was packed out. Then this morning we had a good roll-up for the poets' breakfast and workshops.

All in all, from what I saw and heard about, it was a terrific celebration of both poetry and music. I was so impressed by the musos that I'm thinking of taking up air guitar. Can anyone recommend a good brand?

Cheers
David

[william williams]

David I think you mean AIR Guitar as you seem to have pulled a few of your HAIR GUITARS out

bill the old battler

[David Campbell]

Not to worry, Bill. I've decided the guitar is too difficult, so I'm going to have a bash at air triangle.

Cheers
David