One reason I enjoy Bill's contributions is his use of Australian idiom, something I am still learning having only moved here from New Zealand (via Scotland) in 1967. Andrew Burke's idioms also.
Max in Melbourne
On 27/06/2013, at 8:23 AM, Bill Wootton wrote:
> Passive, Doug, probably because as a poem this arrived from my wife and I piecing together what we had seen that day. It's probably more her voice or me translating the 'technical' or nautical aspects. But I see what you mean: 'were being rowed'. May be I was just distanced, tourist fish out of water too. Australian lingo I hardly notice as I stamp out words.
>
> Cheers,
> Bill
>
> On 27/06/2013, at 1:48 AM, Douglas Barbour <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> That passive voice, Bill. Meant as such?
>>
>> I also really see how Aussie lingo differs from NA version, here, & that's kinda neat.
>>
>> Doug
>> On 2013-06-26, at 1:35 AM, Bill Wootton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> I thought for sure they were going to hit the drink, all three of them. But the snow gods smiled on them, Andrew.
>>>
>>> On 26/06/2013, at 4:26 PM, Andrew Burke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Oho, I know the feeling. Those oars can have a mind of their own when y're
>>>> not used to them. Andrew
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 26 June 2013 08:14, Bill Wootton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Today in Central Park,
>>>>> it being a warmer day
>>>>> than has been for some time,
>>>>>
>>>>> several boats were being rowed
>>>>> around on the lake.
>>>>> One boat drew attention to itself.
>>>>>
>>>>> First noticed as it had trouble
>>>>> pushing off from the side.
>>>>> One bloke sitting in the bow,
>>>>>
>>>>> two blokes manning oars.
>>>>> A bit of circling and frantic
>>>>> pushing on the bank with one,
>>>>>
>>>>> then both of the oars.
>>>>> Evidently they were trying
>>>>> to row it the wrong way.
>>>>>
>>>>> Using the oars as you would
>>>>> paddles on a canoe, they propelled
>>>>> the boat stern first towards
>>>>>
>>>>> the middle of the lake
>>>>> with the chap on the bow
>>>>> gripping the sides for all
>>>>>
>>>>> he was worth. After a struggle
>>>>> and almost losing an oar,
>>>>> they managed somehow
>>>>>
>>>>> to paddle the boat to the landing
>>>>> stage. Cheers resounded from
>>>>> all around the lake.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Andrew
>>>> http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
>>>> 'Undercover of Lightness'
>>>> http://walleahpress.com.au/recent-publications.html
>>>> 'Shikibu Shuffle'
>>>> http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/new-from-aboveground-press-shikibu.html
>>
>> Douglas Barbour
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/
>> http://eclecticruckus.wordpress.com/
>>
>> Latest books:
>> Continuations & Continuations 2 (with Sheila E Murphy)
>> http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=962
>> Recording Dates
>> (Rubicon Press)
>>
>> Springtime’s wide
>> water-
>> yield
>> but the field
>> will return
>>
>> Lorine Niedecker
>>
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