Tag: poems

animals, poetry, writing

What’s a “bogan” dad?

James Arthur Warren AKA Thundercloud Repairian

The term “bogan” is a term that originated in Australia and has been used to describe a particular subculture within the country. The word has been in use for several decades and has undergone a number of transformations in meaning over time.

The exact origin of the term is uncertain, but it is thought to have first been used in the 1970s as a slang term to describe a person who was perceived as being unrefined or lacking in taste or cultural awareness. This person was typically seen as being working-class and having a distinctive Australian accent. The term was often used to describe people who lived in the suburbs or outer regions of cities, as well as those who were involved in motor sports or other working-class pursuits.

Over time, the meaning of the term “bogan” has evolved and become more complex. While it still retains its original connotations of being unsophisticated and lacking in taste, it has also come to be associated with a particular subculture that is often seen as being rowdy, loud, and unrefined. This subculture is often associated with heavy drinking, partying, and other forms of reckless behavior.

Despite the negative connotations associated with the term, it has become an important part of Australian cultural identity and is widely used in the country. Many Australians embrace the term and use it in a self-deprecating or humorous manner, while others find it offensive and view it as an insult.

In recent years, the term “bogan” has become more widely known and has been used in other English-speaking countries. While its meaning and usage can vary in different countries, it remains a key part of Australian cultural identity and continues to be a subject of interest and debate.

In conclusion, the term “bogan” has a complex and evolving history in Australia. While it continues to be associated with negative stereotypes, it is also an important part of the country’s cultural identity and is widely used in a variety of different contexts.

Barry is a bogan known to his mates as Bazza

Bazza’s shag is a sheila called Sharon aka Shazza

They have a daughter named Karen, nicknamed Kazza

Daren is their son, often called Dazza

Now Bazza, Shazza, Kazza and Dazza live in Logan

Shazza has a loud voice, is never quietly spoken

Dazza loves billies but Kazza loves tokin’

Joints, VB, Commodores and Winnie Blue smokin’

Every night you’ll find Bazza at the pub

With his best mate known as “Grub”

Who walks along the street pickin’ up ciggie butts

Grub has this habit of playing with his nuts

Grub likes bare feet and Bazza wears thongs

When they’re pissed they love singing AC/DC songs

Cooking snags on the barbie with a pair of tongs

While Shazza and her girlfriends pack the fellas’ bongs

Dazza drifts his commodore around street bends

Kazza is always swearing and often offends

Bazza loves the massage parlour with his Asian girl-friends

An extra fifty bucks always ensures happy ends

By Thundercloud Repairian

This poem is meant as pure satire and if anyone takes offence, eat a bag of cement and harden up.

Advertisement
poetry, writing

AI History of Surrealism Poetry and Human Created Poem- Psychedelic Cow

James Arthur Warren AKA Thundercloud Repairian

I’ve just been playing around with ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence app which writes pretty much whatever you ask it. I’ve had it create a 3 day poetry festival event management plan, and a draft program, a marketing and advertising plan, a list of 10 Australian Poetry Societies and organisations and more.

I decided to get it to do more complex tasks and ended up with the following two questions and associated answers. :

Create a list of topics to cover in a 2 hour workshop on poetry performance

Create a list of topics to cover in a 2 hour workshop about “Writing from Personal Experience”

Next I wanted to see if it could research and “write 1000 word essay about the history of surrealism poetry” and sure enough right before my very eyes it began to write the following 1000 word essay. The following 1000 words were created at https://chat.openai.com/chat by asking the following question.

Surrealism is a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the early 20th century. It is characterised by a focus on the subconscious, the irrational, and the fantastical, and is known for its use of symbolism, metaphor, and other literary devices to create a sense of disorientation and dreamlike imagery. In poetry, surrealism is known for its use of free association, symbolism, and a disregard for traditional forms, syntax and grammar.

The origins of surrealism can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the publication of the French poet André Breton’s “Surrealism and Painting” in 1924. In this book, Breton defined surrealism as “pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought.” This definition was a rejection of traditional forms of poetry and art, which Breton felt were too limited in their ability to express the full range of human experience.

One of the key figures in the early days of surrealism was the poet and artist Guillaume Apollinaire. Apollinaire was a major influence on the development of surrealism, and his work was characterised by its use of free association, symbolism, and a disregard for traditional forms. His poem “The Joy of Life” is considered to be one of the earliest examples of surrealist poetry.

Another key figure in the early days of surrealism was the poet Paul Eluard. Eluard’s poetry is characterised by its use of symbolism and metaphor, and its focus on the subconscious and the irrational. He is considered to be one of the most important poets of the surrealist movement, and his work continues to be widely read and studied today.

The first official Surrealist group was founded in Paris in 1924, led by André Breton. The group was composed of poets, artists, and intellectuals who shared a common interest in the subconscious, the irrational, and the fantastical. The group held regular meetings and exhibitions, and their work was characterised by its use of free association, symbolism, and a disregard for traditional forms.

Surrealism quickly spread beyond France and became a global movement, with groups forming in countries such as Belgium, Spain, and the United States. In the United States, the poet and artist Wallace Stevens is considered to be one of the major figures of the American Surrealist movement. His poetry is characterised by its use of symbolism, metaphor, and a disregard for traditional forms, and it continues to be widely read and studied today.

Surrealism had a profound impact on the world of poetry, and it continues to be a major influence on poets today. The focus on the subconscious, the irrational, and the fantastical has led to a renewed interest in the power of symbolism and metaphor in poetry, and many poets continue to explore these themes in their work. The use of free association, symbolism, and a disregard for traditional forms has also led to a renewed interest in experimental forms of poetry, such as concrete poetry and visual poetry.

In conclusion, Surrealism poetry is a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the early 20th century characterised by a focus on the subconscious, the irrational, and the fantastical, and is known for its use of symbolism, metaphor, and other literary devices to create a sense of disorientation and dreamlike imagery. The movement was led by André Breton in France, and quickly spread globally to have a profound impact on the world of poetry, influencing poets and artists to this day. With its disregard for traditional forms and syntax, it has led to a renewed interest in experimental forms of poetry.

Now for the bit that you are waiting for: Actual Surrealism poetry. Last week I wrote a bit about a psychedelic cow and I think thats about the most surreal thing that I’ve written recently.

She was a cow

In the here and now

Ate a lot of grass

Let it pass out her ass

Every day she ruminated

As she was so fated

She’d walk to the shed

Milked, and fed

But her world went BOOM

One day when she found and ate a mushroom

Became a psychedelic cow

Didn’t understand how

Life became so great

She began to create

Cow poetry, and art

Continued to fart

And belch methane

But inside her brain

We’re so many thoughts

Like, “why don’t cows play ball sports?”

A psychedelic cow

Had horns on her brow

Loved to surf

Farmed her own turf

Enslaved the farmer

For a Hindu cow… Karma

Made him work the field

To increase the turf yeild

And also pull the plough

The psychedelic Hindu turf farm owning cow

An interesting cow

Sat on a tree bough

Thinking, “I’m woke”

“Just one more toke

Of this DMT

Experienced oneness and extasy

And the Source of creation

All is mind and vibration

As above, so below

On all cows, farmers and farms, the winds blow

She was a cow

Fell in love with a sow

Their love crossed species

They have different faeces

Eat different food

They can’t have a brood

But they’re great friends

Cow and Pig lesbians

Who both love to fart

Plus eat mushrooms and create art.

Somehow I manage to keep up my writing of poetry regardless of the fact that I am running the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame full time. This includes my weekly “Chillin’ Tuesday Poetcast” and Wednesday Words Open Mic where new poets are always welcome. See the the YouTube channel for the Australian poetry Hall of Fame.

Wednesday Words Open Mic Night is every week at the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame and walk ups and new poets and readers are always welcome.

We are currently experiencing Guyra’s Lamb and Potato Festival for 2023 and every day I am also doing a poetry show at 2pm.

poetry

Passion for Poetry

James Arthur Warren AKA Thundercloud Repairian

I could certainly do with with a couple of hundred thousand dollars, half a million….. better….. a million…..? That would really allow me to celebrate poetry in a big way.

Small poetry

Has

IMPACT

small words whack!

Over the last nearly three years I have been working on one of the most important cultural heritage/art/literature projects in modern Australia. In the 24th of March 2020, at the beginning of the Australian COVID19 lockdown I opened the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame in Guyra’s Arcadia Theatre.

https://www.australianpoetryhalloffame.com.au/

It hasn’t been easy. It was always going to be a challenge and a lot of work but I always knew it was going to work. Now we hold a weekly poetry open mic, Wednesday Words and I also do a VidCast or PoetCast every Tuesday which you can see on the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame YouTube channel. I have nurtured and inspired new poets. I have inspired the adult children of dead poets to publish deceased elders poetry.

Plus there is the day to day running of the Australian poetry Hall of Fame which includes pretty much everything. Then I still find time to write poetry and create art, meditate, do yoga, swim, and have time to myself (actually I have little time to myself and when I do, it’s really valued)

So here I am on a Saturday night writing a blog post that I began 6 months ago. One of the wonderful things that has happened in the past week was that I regained control of my hacked facebook account. This meant that I could copy and paste my entire anthology of 2022 poetry into one document. It turns out that I also managed to write over 52 thousand words of poetry on 2022 so I am going to share a few of the poems below. The first is “The Colour of Poetry” and “I spoke with a thousand dead poets”

If poetry were a colour,

it would be a multifaceted rainbow

Red sunsets of beauty and anger,

Pristine white as falling snow

Orange of the desert plains,

Yellow like the sunflowers

Changing hues of fiery flames

Grey clouds bringing showers

Magenta like a summer rose

Ochre like the land and sand

Peacock tails when they pose

Emerald green forest stand

Azure blue as a clear sky

Turquoise of a tropical sea

Eucalyptus blueish green

Changing coloured maple tree

Pink of the cherry blossoms

Pinkish orange of a peach

Tea stains on tea cup bottoms

A golden sandy beach

The browns of nightingales

Soft purple lavender hues

Blues of the blue whales

Wisteria and burnt bamboo

Pastel green and also mint

The liquid black of writing ink

Don’t forget baby pink

Poetry is a rainbow to make you think.

The next poem was inspired by all the dead poets. There are times where I am working so late that I just unroll my yoga mat in the Poetry Hall of Fame, lay down with a blanket and fall asleep surrounded by all the poet portraits that I have drawn for the “hall of fame”, the result is the following poem:

I spoke with a plethora of deceased poets

You know! Poets that are dead

I asked a question of a thousand poets

And this is what they all said

We support you but we are not alive

You need to do what you must do

Tell the world about us and you’ll thrive

A thousand dead poets said this is true

I thanked the dead poets for their poetry

And the people like me inspired

By planting a seed and growing a poet tree

Poets words remain after they’ve retired

A thousand dead poets surround me

Their poetry archived and preserved

Packets of seeds to grow poet trees

A thousand future poets I have served.

Every April there is a Facebook poetry group called “The Dirty Thirty” and the challenge is to write one poem per day for the month of April and also write to the prompt. I always find it really interesting to see what other poets come up with. The following is one that I wrote for day six of the dirty thirty 2022, I’m not too sure what the prompt was but this is what happened.

#thedirtythirty2022 #DAY6

Planting a Poet Tree

Poet trees have good wood

Planting the seeds of future poets is the goal

Watching the poet trees grow

I ran a forestry nursery

1998 planting one seed at a time

20 years later I can show you the forests

Seeds need opportunity for growth and ideal conditions

Seeds plus Soil plus Moisture equals trees

Hence a forestry nursery results in forests.

The Earth becomes greener and little birds  have a forest home

Poet trees need opportunity for growth

People plus inspiration plus opportunity to read /write/ perform poetry.

Hence the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame in Guyra results in more poet tree forests

Hence #thedirtythirty results in more poet tree forests.

And Poet trees have good wood.

Nuff said

Almost. Just one more thing. “Don’t Get a Cat”

One of my latest poems based on a Buddhist story. “Don’t get a cat”

You can support me to keep on producing poetry and content or just Buy Me a Coffee

You can also buy my books Love in Nimbin or Lust in Nimbin or Poetry to End Prohibition

You can also buy the iconic Thundercloud DISOBEY image on T-Shirts and more at the webstore

poetry

The Zen and Tao of Poetry

James Arthur Warren AKA Thundercloud Repairian

One try and Zen? Tao Teh Ching

Lately I’ve been feeling an increase in energy by focusing more consciously on my health and also increasing the flow of my Qi. I love sitting in the sun stretching, breathing deep, doing yoga, also stretching in the morning after sleep. Upon waking in the morning read a verse of Tao Teh Ching, channel my Qi by combining my soul and spirit for balance and wellbeing. Drink rainwater, flow, don’t cut my hair, inhale deep, hold then blow, exhale all my air, ground to earth, create inner fire, lighten, let go but always aspire to be stronger, fitter, joyful, faster, personally develop, become a self master. Water, fire, earth, metal, wood, ether everywhere, as even in the darkest night, the universe is connected in networks of ultraviolet light, now it’s time to share the recent poetry that I write.

The below selection of my recent poetry highlights that I’ve been revisiting the spiritual philosophy of Lao Tzu and the Tao Teh Ching. However, I was recently having a break and met a guy who had recently finished his thesis in poetry and surrealism. This has inspired me to also embrace the surrealism aspects of automatic writing and nonsensical juxtaposition which you’ll certainly find in the final poem below.

Potential

Someone needs to hear it
Maybe many, maybe few,
I haven’t reached my full potential
There’s more potential in you

In this world we become
What about us we believe
Think you’re smart or dumb
That’s what you’ll achieve

You’ve dreams, take action
Set a goal, make a plan
Take a step and make traction
To be a conscious human

Focus on your purpose
See what you’ll create
You get what you deserve
You deserve a life that’s great

You haven’t reached your full potential
Neither have I
This is elemental
You will fly before you die

Climb a mountain or a hill
Finish off your book
It only take your will
In the mirror you can look

Self reflect, don’t hide
Follow all your dreams
Go on a long train ride
Or lead a camel team

Someone needs to hear it
There’s more that you must do
Time to raise your spirit
Do what you’d love to do.

I’ll say it one more time
It is elemental
Everything will be fine
You have much potential.

Elements

Earth
We must be
Born of the Earth
Our home from our birth
We know no other place than here
Back to earth at the end
Just like you my friend
We all disappear
Into dust

Air
We breathe
Inhale the air
Surrounding us
Infinite Source everywhere
With the greatest of ease
Exhaling the air
We breathe.
Air

Water
We flow
As rivers snake
Never grasping, let go
As the rain falls give thanks
Once dry beds now flow over banks
Water is life of everyone we know
An ocean, the seas, lake
Waters flow
Rain, hail
Snow.

Fire
Desire
To burn
Unmitigated lust
Spontaneously combust
Erupt, burst into flames
Decarboxylation
Another name
For a flame
Red head
Fire

Ether
Ethereal
Do I ever feel you?
Sense you, taste you, smell you
I can’t show you
But know you
Ethereal
Brew

Pauses

Pauses…..
Improve……. Poetry delivery

Interupt…….. Anger
Impregnate…… Mom….ents
Of…..
Self reflection.

Pauses… Assist in the course of nature but…
Never……. Interfere in it.

A pause….is……never really there
A pause is……..
……
Nothing

Tao koan choZen

Know no good, know no bad
It is what it is neither happy nor sad

When the mystic masculine Yang
Knows the mystic feminine Yin
Begets the childish Innocence
Of Tao Teh Ching

The whole universe is between white and black
Obscurity in Fame, glory in humility
At the end each road begins a new track
All roads are connected in a network of Unity

Umbrellas do more than stop the rain
Breathing deeply increases Qi
The righteous never feign
Source is infinite energy

I cannot change the world
to conquer it as I see fit
The world would be spoiled
It’s not my business to change it

Some things happen slowly and others faster.
Some are vegan, or eat meat, bread and pasta
There’s tall, short, in between, trains late at the station
letting what you can’t control affect you causes anger and frustration

Water has no hands
Water must flow
It doesn’t hold the banks
Let the dam water go

The scholar learns more in everyway
Give me less knowledge but more serenity each day.
If I need to wait in line, please put me last
So that I can experience life as vast

The important part of each cup is where there is nothing
The important part of a home is where there is nothing
The important part of a door is where there is nothing
The important part of a shirt is where there is nothing.

Everything in nothing and nothing in everything.

Air Bender

There’s a Divine Energy that flows though you and me
That with consistent dedication and focus you can raise and it’s called Qi
It comes from a geometric connected field all around, is a Source
That animates all living things and provides life with a Force
It is an internal lightning and you can move it up and down
Absorb it from the Quantum field, send it flying all around
Learn meditation, breathing, get ligthe, flexible and light
As a Master Energy Bender you’ll spark up in the night
Then you can have access to the Source that gives Energy to me
Unblock, focus and raise, send sparks of lightning called Qi.

My personal surrealism revival

A fish and a frog, pig and a bulldog
Lived in a giant Gourd with both water and air
Each day the fish asked the dog, “may I plait your hair?”
The bulldog replied, with iths eyes agog,
“my hair isn’t long enough because I’m a bulldog”

The frog hopped off to the butcher shop and ordered a bone
Then the Pig began to eat a taxi driver’s hat
There was a knock at the gourd door and in walked a cat
That just started taking selfies with all the other animals smartphones
Then proceeded to lay out a barrier of traffic control cones.

The two suns became one and then split into three
The moon had absolutely no idea where to go
In the hottest part of the Sahara it began to snow
Here’s me with a Coke bottle lid flying over the ocean free
Needing $1 million to stop the monster eating 11 year old me.

Approaching the giant gourd OMG was all I could say
As an automatic landing pad appeared
To see if this was real I pitched myself, pulled my beard
I’m in a lucid dream, I’m sleeping but in a landing bay
So I materialized a Psytrance DJ and we danced for a night and day

A fish, frog, pig, bulldog, cat, DJ, also me
Called all of our friends and invited them to a dance
There were all kinds of animals and people wearing psychedelic pants
When the dance was over we flew home across the sea
You might Not believe it but I dream surreal and lucidly

poetry, writing

A Poetry Dump

James Arthur Warren AKA Thundercloud Repairian

Just last night as I was going to bed, sitting there meditating I had a flash of an idea. I just remembered it so here goes.

Its a Poetry Dump

Wind chill factor

There’s no point yelling at the wind There’s no point crying about the rain The humidity, the heat or cold All weather comes again

The wind will blow on all of us Sometime in life we all have pain Rise to challenges don’t make a fuss You need to scrub to remove a stain

Cold exposure makes you stronger Wind, hail, rain and snowy weather Attitude determines who lives longer Loving souls memories live for ever

Light in dark and dark in light Without fear without frustration Sunrise and sets the day and night Gratitude for all situations

As one ends another cycle begins Nothing resting, vibrations and flow Yin Yang reflect fraternal twins It’s always cold when there’s snow

I won’t cry that the black swans fly Droughts break when it rains Snow comes in black clouds in the sky There are times you must unblock drains

6 Sigma

“Strength has flexibility, power, agility and speed. Fleas bit dinosaurs on the nose, eyes and knees If you’re dedicated, consistent, take an extra step each day Make adjustments and improvements in every single way Delayed gratification to achieve a long term goal and plan Of Personal development to become a six sigma man”

Non-Sense

“Sometimes you have to be prepared to say THAT’S NONSENSE and then just walk away” Thundercloud Quotes

Passion for Poetry

I have developed a passion for poetry. Each word written is a seed Sowed in a forest of minds growing trees

Awake and asleep I fashion my poetry Affecting those who read Prose, some meter, and rhymes flow free

The poets of the past all speak to me Metaphor that heal or bleed Graphic depiction of crimes historically

Cathartic affecting all emotionally Unshackled truth becomes freed Prophetic, grammatical, syntactic poetry

I’m just a poet bird in a big poet tree Into my head poetry I feed I defecate poetry and piss poetry

Cook it in my mind, consume poetry Poetry I love, crave and need Poetry is a healthy obsession for me

A Kick

On the National Register of Unremarkable People There’s men named John, Paul, Steve, Jim, Peter Women named Jessie , Chrissy, Shelly, Kate, Sharon Barbara, Mary, Sarah, Kate and of course Karen

Every night the Unremarkable People all get pissed When they pass away we celebrate they are not missed With Unremarkable lives they contribute a little bit But mostly leech off others, watch TV, smartphones or sit.

The Unremarkable People have all been heaven sent As example how not to live and how life shouldn’t be spent Hedonistic drifters without plans in self dug holes As opposed to planned success and achieving goals

But you can be remarkable if you take some action Proactive plans with goals and passion always makes traction With a definite purpose you’ll be successful and achieve Anything you imagine with action and self belief.

Interesting

“Life is a set of ( brackets) within an infinite soul, growth of spirit is the goal. Life is an adventure not to be missed. Ascending spirits pass through peace, joy and bliss. Life can be boring or interesting. It’s all your a free choice and that’s the best thing. ” Thundercloud Quotes

Cho-Zen

“The world can make you laugh or the world can make you cry, Feed you, and nurture you, the world can make you die You can be a boy, girl, man, woman, other, cat, monkey, hen Do you let the world affect you or wash over you, be zen.” Thundercloud quotes

Beware of the Goat

I went for a ride on my trike tonight There were so many different animals in flight

Oh goodness me, SH. T and F#CK I just got hit by a low flying duck

Next thing I know, yes it’s true I got hit by a flying goose too

After that I thought they were gone. When I rode into a flying black swan

At the last moment from the corner of my eye I ducked as along came a Magpie

Next thing, I don’t know how, I got hit by a swooping cow

Things got crazy and rather big When I got hit by a flying pregnant pig

Then a flying hippopotamus, a flying rhinoceros Then the rain fell down and washed away the lot of us

From the sky fell a million green frogs After that it was raining cats and dogs

Animals were raining everywhere Falling from the sky into my hair

An idea flashed, I knew what to do, I put a fence up and built a zoo

You’re welcome to visit if you like I’ll take you for a tour on my trike

But please be very careful in the zoo Not to tread in elephant poo.

One last thing, bring a rain coat He doesn’t swoop but there’s a pissing flying goat

This is my trike