Patriotism and Poesy
The Government’s decision to excise Australia from the migration zone has spawned widespread protest from the community sector. You can read their submissions to the parliamentary inquiry into the bill here. It’s an inspiring list, considering the timeframe of only seven working days that was given to provide submissions, and the tight budgets, lack of staff and competing priorities that most community organisations experience. Truncated, placatory senate inquiries are the way in days of controlling both houses, it would seem.
However despite my awe of the community sector in this instance, my favourite is a submission from one Huw Luscombe of Harbord, a private citizen who has decided to vent his anger and sadness through the medium of the Great Aussie Ballad. Please enjoy.
Liam wrote:
That is brilliant. That it doesn’t always scan is hardly the point, it’s a rocket from every bush poet who ever jingled a lagerphone or fed a shoulder cockatoo.
I’d like to see more politicians respond to inquiry submissions in poetical forms.
arleeshar wrote:
A Challenge! To translate the response of the Senate to this inquiry into fluent Banjo! I smell an inaugural stoush.com creative writing context comin’ on… stay tuned for the 20th June.
Liam wrote:
I await Amanda to come and tell you that the banjo is a serious instrument, Arleeshar. I think she must have a permanent keyword search going, trawling the internet for mentions of that most twangy of instruments.
I think an iambic pentameter submission, though, would perk up the ears of time-serving public servants and shiny-bum Senators alike. Bring on the regular metre!
Guy wrote:
Maybe the government could start selling tickets to these parliamentary enquiries. Move over Cirque du Soleil!
dibo wrote:
[with apologies profuse to the ghost of edgar allen poe]
this idea i find striking
and muchly to my liking
the constituents all hiking
to the senate chamber door
the notion is tremendous
this spirit that would send us
to hearings sure to rend us
to interminable bores
for i can surely attest
that your deep and lasting int’rest
would simply turn to unrest
of this i am quite sure
alas the spirit will be fleeting
and comrades, you retreating
from the figurative beating
that lies beyond the chamber door
arleeshar wrote:
quoth the public: eat my shorts!
Liam wrote:
With due deference to the double dactyl form:
Truncated, placated
Furious citizens
Sent their submissions in
Verse and with rhyme.
But what now, if all the
Parliamentarians
Expect their submissions in
3/4 time?
Nicholas Gruen (not verified) wrote:
Very nice Liam.
anonymous (not verified) wrote:
‘nicholas gruen’ is spam - click his name
Liam wrote:
Nicholas Gruen is certainly not spam, he blogs at Club Troppo, and what’s more, I’ve met him, had a beer with him, and stoushed in person.
Which is far more than I’d do with anonymous fly-by-night commenters who impugn well-known blogospheric identities.
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