Page 22 - eMuse Vol.9 No.09

2020 49th Annual

Bronze Swagman Award

for Bush Verse

Adelaide Plains Poets Winner: Marco Gliori “Fumbles”
Runner-up: Keith ‘Cobber’ Lethbridge, “Crocodile”
Highly Commendeds:
Poetry Competition —2020 Vision Robert Raftery, “The Black Rose”
Kelly Dixon, “Sullivan”
Judge’s Report Heather Searles, “The Handshake”
I read the 88 entries in our competition looking for the most im- Irene Dalgety Timpone, “Remembering Bill the Bastard”
aginative connection with the theme, “Vision”. There were many Brenda Joy, ‘The Deluge of the Plains”
excellent poems submitted, however there were some which pre- The Tim Borthwick Memorial Prize for a poet not yet published in
sented a broad vision capable of a universal application rather than the Bronze Swagman Book of Bush Verse: Heather Knight, “A Single
simply a graphic description of a person or place. Blackened Post”

First Place: Congratulations to all and thanks to all for your support.
Outside, Looking In - David Campbell The book is being readied for the printer and I will advise when it is
I have awarded first place to this poem, because it presented a ready to go. I will also later advise what poems have been selected
powerful image of first nation peoples as if looking through a win- for the 2020 Book.
dow at a more privileged class. This image conveys a strong mes- Keep safe and keep writing. 50th Bronze Swagman Award in 2021 and
sage about our own land and is also applicable to the indigenous entries are now open. See www.bronzeswagman.info or Page 27.
people of many lands.
Jeff Close
Second Place: closeandmoller@gmail.com
Sentinels of Stone - Jim Kent
This is an excellent rhyming poem which uses the image of one
of the many war memorial monuments seen across our nation. It EASTWOOD/HILLS FAW
conveys deep feelings for the sufferings of those who have served ANNUAL LITERARY COMPETITION
in the armed services, giving a graphic vision of warfare and its af-
termath for the foot soldier. August 1, 2020 / HillsFAW
Third Place: We are very pleased to congratulate the following 2020 Category
A Vision of Hell - Peter O’Shaughnessy Winners and place-getters.
Another rhyming poem which uses the metaphor of a dragon to
convey the terror of an approaching forest fire. In fact, a number
of effective metaphors add to the drama and the feelings of the RESULTS
person viewing a catastrophic blaze.
1st Winner Heart of Australia Brenda Joy
Highly Commended: H.C. The Wild One Tom McIlveen
Seer - Shaine Melrose H.C. Carved to Memory Brenda Joy
This poem takes the reader deep into the emotions of a suffering Com. A Bitter Harvest Tom McIlveen
child whose feelings and hoped for release are well described. It is Com. Hard to Watch Kevin Pye
very relevant to our present-day society .
The winning poem, “Heart of Australia” is on Page 11.
Commended
I found it difficult to separate the following four poems, which are
listed below, but not in any order of merit.

Breaksea Light - Janice Wiliams
In the villanelle form, this poem uses the Breaksea Light as an ef-
fective anchor point and conveys the sense of dislocation felt by
soldiers setting out for battlefields far away.
Reading Between the Lines - Kerry Harte
The first three verses are brought into sharp focus in the conclu-
sion. The ending brings the reader to a very real present-day issue.
Water Journey - Janice Wiliams
This vision of life is well described. I particularly appreciated the
positive note on which the poem concluded.
Octopus Eyes - Gordon McPherson
An intriguing picture of a much-maligned sea creature which brings
the reader to a telling appraisal of human nature.
Geoff Graetz
22 eMuse September 2020