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“Poetry is a powerful means of conveying important ideas.” Discuss this statement in reference to 3 poems you have studied as part of the Landscape Poetry Unit.
In “Late Summer Fires” Murray initially establishes the powerful idea that there is an inextricable relationship between mankind and the landscape, in which nature suffers according to humankind’s treatment of it. He attributes the destructive fires and the death associated with them to Whiteman’s unsustainable farming practices. A dysfunctional relationship between the two is first established in Murrays extended metaphor of a man shaving; ‘paddocks shave black/ with a foam of smoke that stays’. The statement implies that the fires have caused widespread destruction that will not easily be forgotten. Murray then states “ in the white of the drought/ this happens”, symbolically using the colour ‘white’ to indicate that the drought and fires are caused by White settlers. In this sense, Murray represents the landscape as a victim of mankind’s practices and the dysfunctional relationship that exists between the two.
In” Creek” , Luke Davies illustrates a similar relationship, in which the complex beauty of nature is ideal in fostering loving relationships between humans. Davies describes the “the sun/Blesses all of [the lovers] ...watery kisses” and “the reeds caress” their ankles. This sensual language suggests a deeply innate connection between the natural landscape and loving human relationships. Davies has personified the ‘sun’ and ‘reeds’ as a divine being, who is celebrating and nurturing the lovers’ experience as they become immersed in nature. Consequently, Davies is illustrating the inextricable bond that exists between humans and the natural environment. It is this bond that can unite humans in shared feelings of love and purity and {text:change-start} metaphorically {text:change-end} transport them “outside of time” as they celebrate this.
Similarly, North of Mount Cameron West, Louise Oxley explores a similar theme. Oxley represents the landscape as an uneasy witness to the bloody and brutal aspects of Australia’s history. She connotes that in order to move towards a successful future, the landscape and its connecting history need to be acknowledged and understood. Oxley personifies the landscape with the simile “Mount Cameron shifts like a restless sleeper” to suggest the landscape unhappily bears the scars of a violent past. She alludes to a time when Aboriginal people were “hunted over cliffs” and ‘force-fed Christ’, a metaphor for the enforcement of Christianity on Aboriginal people within missionaries, in order to inform the audience of examples of the injustice she believes need to be known. Oxley demands “we must retrace our steps/ or lose the way”. The imperative “must” suggests the importance of understanding and acknowledging the past in order to move forward. Her use of collective pronouns appeals to the audience, and urges them to learn more about the oppression of aboriginals throughout Australia’s history.
Murray also enlightens his audience that there is a strong connection between aboriginal culture and the Australian landscape. Thus, when the landscape is destroyed, it is inevitable that aboriginal culture will also suffer. Murray symbolically represents the sun as the ‘yellow of the aboriginal flag’ to signify the unity between the Australian landscape and aboriginal culture. It then becomes evident that when a ‘family drives sheep/ out through’ this symbol, that the white family are damaging the landscape as well as the flag, a symbol of their culture. Murray’s diction, particular his choice of the preposition ‘through’ indicates that white man’s farming practices are a destructive force. Murray metaphorically illustrates the suffering of the landscape as ‘welling out of red-black wounds’. His use of the adjective ‘red-black’ alludes to the colours of the aboriginal flag which represent land and the aboriginal people, suggesting that both these elements have suffered due to the vicious fires.
Aboriginal people’s connection with the landscape is also portrayed in North of Mount Cameron West. Oxley identifies a relationship between humankind and the Australian landscape that involves a continuous journey, where past, present and future are all important. The poem is of a cyclical structure where the repetition of the words ‘It’s true that I’ Oxley establishes a connection between the first stanza and the last , proposing an ongoing journey between the environment and humankind. Her use of personal pronoun suggests that the relationship between the land and humankind is important to each individual human being. She emphasises that the continuous relationship between land and human is particularly strong with aboriginal people, who “kneel to these small worlds/ as...[they] did as a child”. Her reference to the subject’s childhood, suggests that they have been connected with this landscape their whole lives, and would therefore share a special relationship with it. Oxley represents the landscape as an important aspect in the life of each individual human being, where a dynamic and innate relationship exists.
Late Summer Fires conveys the idea that Nature can be a very powerful and destructive force, causing destruction that is not easily forgotten. Murray constantly uses descriptive language to illustrate the destruction caused by the ‘late summer fires’. He utilised the metaphor “logs that fume are mostly cattle’ to suggest the widespread death associated with the fire. Murrays choice of adjective; ‘fume’ suggests the slow tortuous nature of the cattle’s death. Murray then uses the harsh, alliterative constanant ‘W’ sounds of “walloped, wiped” to replicate the merciless and intense nature of the fire in his poem. To emphasis the harmful force of the fire, these sensory descriptions are juxtaposed against the slow country lifestyle pace referred to in the last line of stanza, evident in Murrays use of the adverb; ‘slowly’.
North of Mount Cameron West also commemoratesthe intricate beauty of the landscape. Oxley uses descriptive language to illustrate the rich beauty of the landscape, she writes “a leaf-curling spider’s web strung in the boobialla”. Her diction, especially the word ‘strung’ enables her to beautify a commonly hated insect; the spider. Thus, she suggests that the landscape is filled with beauty, even within creatures that are initially stereotyped as dangerous or ugly. She describes the rhythmic waves of the ocean using the simile “like hands over a piano”. She references a piano as it is associated with pleasure and harmony, causing the audience to relate these feelings to the sea, and see the beauty within it. Oxley illustrates the landscape as a rich with life and unconventional beauty, when one wills to see it.
Furthermore, the poem “Creek” by Luke Davies explores the diverse beauty of nature which is evident from the {text:change-start} sense of peace {text:change-end} it evokes. The positive, light tone of the poem is established by Davies diction, especially the euphonic verbs ‘skitters’ and ‘flitters’. These words, which are associated with happiness and playfulness, imply that the creek habitat is an emotional appealing and beautiful place. To emphasis this serenity, Davies even portrays the unusual beauty of the commonly feared snake; “the diamond python curls”. Thus, Davies aims to communicate that splendour can be found in all forms of nature, including the manner in which a snake “curls” or a “platypus skitters”. Davies has also utilised a soft rhyme pattern in which he simulates the gentle pleasure of being immersed within nature and the calmness it induces. {text:change} Thus “Creek”, celebrates this calmness and divinity by revealing the intricate beauty of nature. It goes on to identify how, not only is nature diverse and rich, but it appears to be simple and timeless, qualities that amalgamate to evoke a sense of peace and joy in humans who appreciate it.
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