Cameron M. Semmens

Poet. Performer.

Cameron is both poet – having published many books and CDs of his poetry – and performer – he brings his unique brand of entertainment and insight to people around Australia. He makes his living through words running workshops, performing and selling his books. He lives in Melbourne with his wife Sonya, who is also a writer, and his baby son Spencer who can't write a word.

Cameron is a highly experienced performance poet. He regularly performs at a wide range of venues and events for kids and adults alike. He loves to share his gift personally with people and communities. Cameron regularly runs workshops for children, teens and adults. He specialises in poetry workshops but also does creative writing workshops from a poet's perspective.

A Sampling of the Poetry:

The 23rd G'day

A Psalm of Dave - An all Aussie version of Psalm 23

The Lord is my jackaroo
I never have to scum off any sheila.
He lets me take a smoko
down in the lush, green paddocks.
He takes me to the billabong
with no crocs and no mozzies.
He patches up the sole of my blunnies.
He points me in bonza directions
and He takes the cred.
Even though I go on walkabout through the Never Never
with a good chance of carking it,
I will fear no Tassie devils
for You are true blue;
Your stock whip and Your barbie-mate comfort me.
You put on a sausage sizzle for me
in the sight of a mob of mongrels and bludgers.
You douse my noggin with emu oil.
My tinny overflows.
I reckon mateship and a fair go
will mark every day of my life,
and I will bunk down in Your holy homestead
for yonks and yonks and yonks.

Wine, Women and Wild Wonders

       The story of Jesus changing water into wine. John 2:1-11.

         One wedding,
(one to which the Wonder Worker went)
was wonderously wonderful;
with wistful waltzers,
warbling whistlers
and witty wise ones… whispering wisely.
When,
without warning,
the wedding's wine wan out!

       The waiters worriedly whispered,
        "Where's wine?
              What!?!
          We're wineless!?!?!"

          Whistlers wanted to wet their whistle.
Waltzers wanted wine when welaxing
while witty wise ones
wanted wads of whisky, wine or whatever.

      When one woman
(the one who once enwombed the Wonder Worker)
whispered, "What a whoppertunity Wonder Worker:
               a wedding, wineless -
              work wild wonders!"

        The Wonder Worker wanted to withdraw,
yet the Wonder Worker was no a whingeing wowser.

         The woman
(the one who once enwombed the Wonder Worker)
went to the whimpering waiters, whispering,
        "Work whatever way the Wonder Worker wants."

           The Wonder Worker wanted wads of water!
At once, in a whirlwind of wishful work,
wads of water went the Wonder Worker's way.

               When…
what was water was wine!

             The waiters went, "What?
                          Wine!?!?!
           What was washing water is wonderful wine!                  
                        Woopidoo!!!!"

                The wine, once water,
went to the wedding's Wise One.
              "Wow, what wonderful wine!"
the Wise One wailed.
             "Why would waiters waste wonderful wine
              on woozy, whacked wedded ones?
               Wonderful wine's wasted at the welcoming!"

                Ones aware of the Wonder Worker's
water-wine wonder were wowed!
While the wise ones went on wailing,
                    "Wow!
                   What wonderful wine!
                  What a wonderful wedding!"

                And what a wonderful wedding it was!

a current-er prayer

          Our media,
whose art is manipulation
hollow be thy game.
Thy cameras come, it will be done
on Nine as it is on Seven.
Give us this day our daily sensation,
and feed us our fears
as we feed the fear of others.
Lead us on with misinformation
and deliver us from thinking.
For thine is the king-maker
with the power of the story,
forever and ever,
amoral.

The Greatest of These

based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.

That which is often confused with romance –  is patient.
That which is the defining essence of God –  is kind.
That feeling which most pop songs aspire to capture –
      does not envy.

That which is more influential than celebrity –  does not boast.
That which is more consequential than politics –  is not proud.
That which makes hard men write poetry
and soft women watch rugby –  does not behave rudely.

That which is a four letter word –  thinks no evil.
That which is used to rhyme with SHOVE –  is not easily angered.
That which is often reduced to the salutation at the end of a letter – 
      is not selfish.

That which transcends the law –  does not rejoice in wrongdoings.
That which sees the best in people –  always defends.
That which inspires humans to give without thought of receiving – 
      always trusts.

That which prompts a man and a woman
to commit their whole lives together –
      always expects the best.
That which binds a mother to a child;
a people to a land;
a God to a universe –
      always, always, always perseveres.

That which is more than sentiment –  is greater than faith.
That which is more than a lofty ideal –  is greater than hope.
That which, when perfect, drives out all fear –
      goes on… goes on… goes on… forever.

Contact Cameron