Rant Supporting Scott Waide & PNG's Journalists
15 July 2019
DIANE MANDUI MIRIO
| An entry in the 2019 Crocodile Prize Award for Poetry
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
So I could write about today's news
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
So I could interview the women at the hospital
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
So I could listen to the views of the teachers
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
So I could tell the world about the volcano at Manam
and the ignorance by my government
in setting up a permanent care centre
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
So I could film the flood waters between Lae and Madang
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
So I could show my country,
how the Maseratis were used at my people's expense
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
Because I was telling the truth
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
Because that was what I was trained for
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
Because I believe in media freedom
I took my camera, my notepad and my biro
Because we are all taxpayers,
we should be informed
without any repercussions
Thank you Michael. I truly appreciate your observations about my writing. Will do my best in future.
Posted by: Diane Mandui Mirio | 20 January 2020 at 11:53 PM
The verses are each a good start but there's a bit missing in each of them, the "what".
May be worth expanding on the ideas in each verse, if not in this work then in further poetry.
It's good material to work with, and important.
Scott is a great journalist and a good man.
Posted by: Michael Dom | 02 December 2019 at 11:56 AM