8 Days a Week

Day 1  bush poem 1:

EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS, I will present a bush poem from premier Australian bush poet Long John Best. The poems are all originals from Long John Best’s first print collection, Tall Tales.

        I have known Long John, now in his 80s, for about 20 years, perhaps not coincidentally, around the time he began to apply himself seriously to the craft of bush poetry, known as cowboy poetry in the United States. I say, not coincidentally, because we met when I was doing the entertainment round for the  Pine Rivers Press and the Northern Times newspapers 

        I have been privileged over the years to write stories about Long John or Johnny or Bestie, as various friends and family call him.

        Long John has helped me out too, performing at the launch of my novel, Iraqi Icicle. Through his group the North Pine Bush Poets, he raised money to buy my intellectually disables son, Kevin, an iPad to communicate with. 

        John seemed to be always raising money for someone. As you will read in one poem, one of his favourites was the Royal Flying Doctor Service which has a long history of providing medical services to rural Australia. Proceeds of Tall Tales support the Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA QLD) another of his favorites.

        Long John’s poetry ranges from the comic to the sentimental. He is not afraid to tackle controversial issues but he has the gift of uniting rather than dividing his audiences of various political and philosophical impulses.

        I am proud to call Long John Best my friend and I am happy Bent Banana Books was able to assist him in publishing Tall Tales. Let the tales begin. On the first tale of tallness, Long John wrote and performed Tasha, a Gift of a Dog.

Long John Best:

This is the story of an uninvited visitor to our home who stayed for fifteen years. She proved herself to be a wonderful warm and loyal companion. Honest and non-judgmental she was a great listener. We loved her then as we love her still.

Tasha, a Gift of a Dog

A puppy’s paw print, placed in concrete, nearly forty years ago,

 I was dirty when she did it, but no more, how could I know?

Now, every time I see it, takes me back, to reminisce

‘Bout them two young girls, who lived here, ‘bout Old Tasha, I still miss.

Comedy murder of an insurgent

Dilbert with guns

 Party Boys: North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un  is the third in a line of hedonists to control the nation. Pictured are his Dad, Kim Jong Il and Poppy, Kim Il-sung (left)

North Korea reminds me of the Dilbert corporation with guns. Surely Scott Adams created these characters and plot-lines. Even the journalist Jay Holmes sounds wacky.

What's hot and cool and read all over?

Here In Queensland  Australia, we have a heatwave while in New York and New Jersey you let it snow, let it snow – because you cannot do much about it.