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Thursday, April 30, 2009

NaPoWriMo #30

At Readwritepoem, Carolee asked us to write a list in which each line started "I don't think I can". The idea was to do it very quickly, without thinking too much. I found myself slipping into word association, rhyme, assonance and so on. I still didn't know what to do with my list, until suddenly over a coffee break at work something jumped into my mind, sparking the idea for the following piece of doggerel. (As for the refrain, it's a New Zealand thing. Speight's is a brand of beer, and the line comes from an advertisement for the beer. Southern men in New Zealand are macho sheep farming country blokes.)

The Almost Perfect Southern Woman

She can yarn and crack a joke
just as well as any bloke.
When it comes to shearing sheep
she can do it in her sleep
      she doesn't drink Speight's, but.

She can swing an axe and fell a poplar
down the pub she's always popular
and if it's food you want to have
she can bake a perfect pav
      she doesn't drink Speight's, but.

On her mountain bike she'll pedal
fast enough to win a medal
and she can dazzle all
at the blokes and sheilas ball
She can ride and shoot a gun,
never whines, she's always fun
      -pity about the Speight's, but.

6 comments:

Irene said...

Catherine, I enjoyed your fun portrait of the Southern woman.
Christchurch is lovely, lucky you..I will dropping by your blog after April.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed this poem too ! and well done on keeping to the pace of a poem a day ! Very impressive :)

Claire said...

My cultural experience of New Zealand has mainly been Shortland Street and Flight of the Conchords, but I was still able to enjoy your poem, Catherine!

(P.S. I used your line to inspire my poem today.)

Liz at Yips and Howls said...

This made me laugh. I'll have to look up Spleight's, but thanks for the insight into a Southern woman in your part of the world (it has a very different connotation in the US).

sarah said...

Lol, as a fellow kiwi, I absolutely get (and love!) the irony here! Excellent job :-)

Wayne Pitchko said...

well written....i enjoyed