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Open Poetry #37
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The Ballad of the Blowfly
| Open Poetry #37 |
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The Ballad of the Blowfly |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
We'd met them in Cloncurry town while touring Queensland’s west, Enthralling them with verse and yarns we Aussies all love best. The bloke he was from New South Wales, but had been overseas And bought on back a Pommy lass he loved to hug and squeeze. We told them we were joining mates in good old Camooweal. There was a drover's festival. They said, "That sounds ideal." Our destination's Darwin, though could stay a day or two. "Might see you there tomorrow then," and bid us all "hooroo." The pub became the social hub in Camooweal next day, Old drovers, townsfolk, poets too had gathered to the fray. All sharing tales that stretched the truth and never seemed to end, When who should walk in through the door ... our mate and Pommy friend. They sat in awe and listened to the tales we had to tell, When suddenly our mate he rose, he'd got the bug as well. "You see that blowie upside down and in my girlfriend’s beer; He's carked it as you all can see. But has it? Gather near." "Because we're mates I'll wage no bet, though this is what I'll do. I'll bring that blowie back to life and make him good as new." He had us rather spellbound with his claim to raise the dead, When packhorse drover Simpson raised his voice and simply said. "I've been around the bush a bit and heard some dodgy claims, But resurrecting blowies mate; you’re playing silly games. I'll walk to Bourke and backwards lad if you can raise that fly. Still, do your best, I'll drink my rum. You give it your best try." Then old Ab Tees threw in a jibe, as he had doubts as well, "I'll eat me old Akubra mate 'cause that flie's gone to hell." He shrugged his shoulders at their taunts and didn't even jar, Just raised that blowie from the glass and laid it on the bar. "There any salt around?" he asked. The barman went to look, Returned and handed him the salt he'd cadged from off the cook. He poured some salt upon the bar then sat the fly on top, Continued pouring more salt on then fin'lly made a stop. With puzzled looks the motley crew all watched the salty mound, The silence was remarkable for no one made a sound. Til finally Bill Hay spoke up and said, "What happens now?" Liz Ward just sat and looked in awe, long wrinkles on her brow. Our mate then sat back on his stool and said in his cool way, "In 'round six minutes you will see that blowfly fly away." Some doubting Thomas's drank on, the baffled watched in awe, The barman he just poured the drinks and hoped we'd drink some more. Then suddenly the salt mound moved, as two black legs broke through, Two wings, a head and then the rest walked out as though on cue. It walked around in circles till he gave the bar two thumps, Which sent the blowie airborne and our mate had come up trumps. Old Ab Tees tried to sneak away for he had seen enough, When I yelled, "Here Ab take some salt your hat looks mighty tough!" Bruce Simpson he just shook his head and looked at that there bloke, Then asked, "How far is flam'in Bourke?" Then rolled another smoke. Our mate he took his Pommy friend and staggered off to bed. I guess he thought he was one up, so quit while still ahead. We had a lot of fun that 'arve, the weekend too was swell, Bush verse and country music reigned along with yarns as well. This year we did it all again but never saw our mate And wondered ... was he still around and raised a fly of late? We never did forget that bloke and joke about it still; Old Abb and Simmo, Liz and I along with our mate Bill. |
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| © Copyright 2006 the grey - All Rights Reserved | |||
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StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) |
One Cool Poem The Grey, I was rooting for the blowie from the start! Bravo! :-) |
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shmity72 Junior Member
since 2006-04-29
Posts 26wa usa |
incredible. |
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El_Campeador Senior Member
since 2003-01-29
Posts 761Ohio, USA |
I enjoyed it  Ben “We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” –Robert Louis Stevenson |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Now that was one darn good story, and I am not sure if it was a yarn or not, but what the heck - it was incredibly well done, and fun to read as usual. By the way, what would pommy mean?  I live in Canada, never heard that expression.Enjoyed your rhyme devine as usual Grey. |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Fine poem, the grey. Fine story too. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Always a pleasure to read of down under... of blowies, bartimes and great laughter which sounds a bit like thunder! |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
I love your yarns! Have you ever thought of compiling them all into a book? ~ "Tales from the Outback" ~ "Aussie Yarns" ~ "Grey Tales" lol You even manage to keep the rhyme and meter, pitch perfect in the telling!  Big hug and a hearty laugh, Linda  |
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Bodger Senior Member
since 2005-06-12
Posts 1260Tolerance for a short time |
Sounds brilliant Dave |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
In my mind..I read this with an accent.  superb telling! "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day StevenS. Thanks for sharing this tale old mate. Yes even the old blowies can come up trumphs at times. The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day shmity72. thank you for sharing this tale. The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Ben. Thanks for sharing the plight of the old blowfly mate. The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Mysteria. This was based on a true story and a Pommy is an Englishman/woman. A Pom. Pommies. Just like I'm an Aussie, this lass was a Pom. Cheers Merv |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day The Lady. Thank you for taking the time to share this tale. The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Sunshine. We are a boisterous lot down under. Cheers The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Linda. I have published eight books of bush verse and yarns and been fortunate enough to have been a finalist on six occassions in the Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards held in Tamworth each year at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Check out my web site if you'd like to see more. Cheers The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Dave. Thanks for sharing this tale mate. Cheers The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Susan. I meet a lot of overseas folk and I always ask if they can speak English. Many admit they can speak English but find speaking Australian a bit of a battle at times. Cheers The Grey |
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