Australian Bush Poetry is a popular form of poetry that is written by Australian’s or about the country Australia.

1. Understanding Australian Bush Poetry
written by: Phillip A Ellis
Bush poetry has been part of the Australian writing culture for a long time.
Poets of the late nineteenth century were especially keen on writing what
is popularly known as bush ballads. However, many of the very first poets
of bush poetry are unknown as it first spread orally. But some of their
songs like 'Nine Miles from Gundagai' are still popular today.
Phillip A. Ellis

2. But what is Australian bush poetry? Simply put,
it is the type of poetry that initially spoke of the
rural life and Australian bush during the colonial
era. The initial poets had no formal schooling
and therefore the poems were memorized. To
make this easier they introduced verse and
rhyme in the poems.
Phillip A. Ellis

3. What is Australian bush poetry as it is known today traces its origins
from the arrival of the British in 1788. Initially, what was known as the
Colony of New South Wales was inhabited by convicts. Free settlers
arrived from 1793 and added a new cultural diversity. But since there
was no much formal education, people engaged in storytelling and jokes.
Phillip A. Ellis

4. The stories evolved with introduction of rhyme, rhythm and metre. These
aspects made the stories easier to recall. With these friendly changes,
the stories quickly developed in bush poetry as it is known today. Even
though these initial poets were illiterate, they contributed greatly into the
birth and popularity of Australian bush poetry.
Phillip A. Ellis

5. Australian bush poetry has a unique place in the country's history. It was
the first, original home grown culture which eventually became popular
with many people. Bush poets explored any subject that was of interest
to their audiences. Any interesting topic could generate bush poetry.
Bush poets explored any subject that was of interest to their audiences.
Any interesting topic could generate bush poetry.
Phillip A. Ellis

6. While the initial bush poetry was largely oral, the emergence of
affordable formal education to the children in the colonies in the 1830s
helped the evolution of written bush poetry. By 1875 it was compulsory
for children between 7 and 13 years to go to school. At this time,
recordings of bush poetry had started.
A significant aspect of Australian bush poetry is its beautiful, colloquial
language. It reflects some distinct features of the traditional native
culture of Australians. The underlying themes reflect the concern for
developing a distinctive Australian identity especially by earlier bush
poets. This is evident from poems by famous poets like Banjo Peterson
(1864-1914) in 'Waltzing Matilda' and Henry Lawson (1867-1922) in 'The
City Bushman.'
Phillip A. Ellis

7. Today, Australian bush poetry has
gained a lot of popularity. An
association known as The
Australian Bush Poet's Association,
formed in 1994 seeks to promote
this poetry. It has attracted people
interested in writing and performing
modern and traditional Australian
bush poetry.
There many festivals and
competitions held every year to
promote bush poetry. School
children also compete for the
famous Dorothea Mackellar Poetry
Award which is the longest lasting
competition in poetry. It is named
after a famous bush poet Dorothea
Mackellar (1885-1968). One famous
poem by this poet is 'My Country'. Phillip A. El

8. Currently, bush poetry is experiencing a huge revival thanks to many bush
poetry clubs that continue to be established. These clubs are found both in
towns and in the rural areas. There are also many such online clubs.
Besides, it has become the norm for bush poetry to be part of the
entertainment schedules of many functions such as fundraisers, bush
camps and other festivals.
Phillip A. Ellis

9. How to Write Speculative Poetry
written by: Phillip A Ellis
Poems with speculative themes are written in such a way that readers get
into an unknown zone, full of chill and thrill. One of the most striking
features of these poems is the beautiful language that is used by the
poets.
Phillip A. Ellis

10. Poems like "Spirits of the Dead" written
by Edgar Allan Poe is the best example in
this regard. A good speculative poem
needs to have two major characteristics.
First and foremost, it should be musical.
Secondly, it should be haunting.
By combining beautiful language with
imagery, you can come up with a
speculative poem that is going to create a
positive impression on the mind of your
readers.
When it comes to writing a speculative
poem, first thing that you need to do is to
develop a rhyme scheme. You also have
an option of not using any rhyme at all.
Phillip A. Ellis

11. Next, you need to decide on the lines that are going to be there in every
stanza. Mark it down. Make sure that the lines finishing in the identical
letters rhyme with one another.
By developing a rhyme scheme initially, you will be able to establish your
form in a much better manner. Point to be noted here is that the poem you
have written does not have to rhyme but if you opt for unrhymed writing,
restrict the usage of rhymes.
Giving rhymes on some events and not using it on other occasions can
easily have a negative impact on your poem musical flow.
To write a good speculative poem, you need to choose subject very
wisely. It should fit the theme. In addition, you also need to put focus on
the setting.
Phillip A. Ellis

12. Using ghosts as a starting point is not a bad option but there are other
things as well that fits perfectly into speculative theme.
One of the most famous overriding themes in speculative poems is death.
Returning from the dead is quite a vital part of these poems.
With regard to settings, it includes cemeteries, castles and Gothic
environments. It has been noticed that unexpected settings can quite a
number of times be more effective, as it comes with a surprise element.
When it comes to selection of words in these poems, you need to opt for
those that evoke creepy pictures or the way they sound, help develop a
mood.
Phillip A. Ellis

13. Some of the best examples in this regard are mentioned below.
The Darkness
Sound of something breathing in
You need to use words that create a sense of wait and curiosity
among readers. To write a good speculative poetry, it is of utmost
importance that you try to build suspense all the way.
In the beginning of the poetry, you need to be descriptive in your
approach. As you move on, you need to create more tension. But that
does not mean you ignore the importance of your starting stanza. Use
it as a background material.
You can treat stanzas in your poem as a book chapter. You start
reading book with the start, not with middle and end portion.
Phillip A. Ellis

14. @PhillipEllis
http://www.phillipaellis.com
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