Australian poetry: critics might say that there’s not much to discuss when it comes to this particular sub-genre of literature. After all, we all know the joke; the main difference between Australia and yoghurt is that yoghurt has culture. However, when you look past all the irrelevant stories of ‘sunburnt countries’ and ‘heroic’ bushrangers, Australian poetry can tell us a lot about who we are as a country. For me, the poems Australia by Polish poet Ania Walwicz and We Are Going by the acclaimed Indigenous Australian poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal say a lot about racial discrimination in Australia, and about our history of inequality that some would argue continues to this day. While these two poems don’t capture everything that it means to be Australian (far from it, in fact), they showed me a new side of one of the most controversial parts of the Australian identity, and gave me a deeper understanding of discrimination within our society. Australia- Ania WalwiczLet’s start with Ania Walwicz’s poem, Australia. Written as a response to the discrimination she faced after moving here, I find Australia to be a very saddening portrayal of life in Australia. Initially, I thought that perhaps Walwicz had gone a little over the top. After all, opening with the phrase “You big ugly.” (line 1), seemed a little hypocritical for someone who was complaining about the harsh treatment and mean comments she had received. However, interspersed throughout the (arguably) irrelevant rambling are a number of serious, very valid points. Walwicz works with the theme of acceptance (or lack of it, rather), and talks about her own experiences as an immigrant who wasn’t accepted as part of Australian society.
As an immigrant myself, it is upsetting to have to agree with this depiction of Australia. While not all immigrants have this same negative experience Walwicz endured, it’s clear to see that the issue of racial discrimination does exist in Australia. On the bright side, we do seem to be moving forward, and we were doing so even during Ania Walwicz’s time. All throughout the 70s and 80s, the government was making moves to ensure better equality for migrants and people who were ‘different’, reflecting the desire of the Australian society for these changes to happen. These events, among others, tell us that as a society, we can recognise inequality and injustice, and we can act against it. We celebrate these acts, and commend ourselves for bringing about this change, as we rightfully should. However, what we don’t see is ourselves falling into the same patterns over and over again, all the while applauding ourselves for how much ‘progress’ we’ve made. Modern Australia, for example, is extremely divided when it comes to accepting Islamic people, or refugees and ‘boat people’, yet as a nation we pride ourselves on our diversity and multiculturalism. For this reason, Australia remains reflective of our society, even 36 years after it was written, and will continue to be relevant for as long as social inequality exists in Australia. We Are Going- Oodgeroo NoonuccalThe second of the two poems we’re looking at today is We Are Going. After reading it for the first time, I couldn’t help but feel, for want of a better word, a little empty. Written in 1965 by Oodgeroo Noonuccal, it reflects on the devastating effect of the British invasion on Indigenous culture. The experience described in We Are Going is one of losing everything you love and care about; your family, your community, your traditions, your culture. Just the mere thought of ever having to go through anything close to what the Indigenous Australians endured fills me with anger and grief. Before reading this poem, I did know what the Indigenous Australians went through, but I hadn’t quite grasped the magnitude of the effect of these events. Although equality and Indigenous rights have improved significantly since the time of this poem, the effects of the deliberate attempts at cultural genocide are still plain to see, with the Indigenous culture a mere sliver of what it used to be, as described by Noonuccal in the last few lines of her poem:
For me, one of the most outrageous ideas discussed in the poem is that not only was Indigenous Australian culture almost completely destroyed, Indigenous Australians were then made to feel like outsiders in their own land; a land they have lived in for tens of thousands of years. Oodgeroo Noonuccal describes it best: ‘We are as strangers here now, but the white tribe are the strangers.’ (line 8). When the European settlers arrived, Indigenous people were made to feel like the outcasts of Australian society, and to an extent, this completely irrational idea still stands today. Although the situation has improved in recent times, especially since Kevin Rudd’s ‘Sorry Speech’, there is still a long way to go. Throughout Australia, particularly in rural areas, there is a clear social divide between Indigenous and white Australians. I feel that this divide, while not at all positive, is very much a part of Australian society, and it is a part that needs to be changed. These two Australian poems tell us uncomfortable truths about ourselves and about our society that we would often rather forget or ignore. However, poems like this really are such an important part of who we are, and if we want to move forward as a society, we need to accept and embrace parts of our identity that not only showcase all of the amazing things about our country, but also our flaws and downfalls. For as long as the effects of the cultural genocide against the Indigenous Australians, or the racial inequality in Australia remains, these poems, Australia by Ania Walwicz, and We Are Going by Oodgeroo Noonuccal will remain relevant. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to check out some of my other works and related articles linked to the right! Comment below with your opinion on Australian poetry. Do you think these poems accurately represent Australia?
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