Sometimes Gladness
– Bruce Dawe
Public Library, Melbourne – page 9
What do I notice about the poem at first?
At first I notice the title of the poem which causes me
to assume what the poem will be about. As I read on from the title, I notice
how the descriptive words make the poem a lot more interesting to read than if
there were no use of descriptive words. I notice the way the poet includes not
only a description of children but a description of what lays in a library as
well as the request to respect elders and the library itself.
What is most
striking or memorable about the poem?
I think the most striking thing about the poem is the use
of the descriptive words and how well it describes the boys who came into the
library, what lays in the library and also the history.
Do I like the
poem? Does it grow on me?
This poem is one I do like and it makes me think a lot
more about the depth of libraries. To me, libraries are fascinating as I love
to read books and I don’t think my opinion of them could ever change.
What is the main
subject or image?
The main subject of the poem is the existence of
‘history’s parents’ in a library. As the
poet wrote – ‘Go easy, kids, here sleep your history’s parents, coffined in
vellum, decently layed out, but ruling from their dry octavo tombs.’ History
goes way, way back to thousands of years ago. All that has been within the
years of existence may rest in a library just waiting for somebody to come and
learn.
What does the poem
mean?
The poem means there is more to a library than what
majority of people think. A library doesn’t contain just ‘books’, it contains a
lifetime of information, the history of existence, fiction and non-fiction,
sci-fi and drama. A library is a world within itself.
How does it say
it?
All descriptive words in the poem are used to describe
what is happening – a few boys coming into a library with baseball caps on
their heads and chewy gum in their mouths, voices that could be used to
disrespect yet should be used to respect the library and all that lies within.
What other
texts/events do you think the poem connects to?
I think the poem also connects to the general saying that
we all hear ‘Respect your elders’. I think the poem also isn’t aimed at just the Public Library in Melbourne,
but most other libraries in the world.
The Tree Pulled Down – page 62
What do I notice about the poem at first?
As soon as I looked at the page of this poem, I first
noticed the words ‘The wagtail’s sweet switch of sound’. I then noticed the
title and could already know what the poem would be about.
What is most
striking/memorable about the poem?
I read the poem, and to me the most striking thing about
it was the way it described a tree. Anybody could be walking through a park and
glance at a tree but not take a second look or a second thought as to the
beauty and nature of it, the existence, the life of the tree and how many
people have walked past.
Do I like the
poem? Does it grow on me?
I truly like this poem – I am quite fond of nature and I
absolutely love the beautiful view of trees, no matter what they look like. All
trees have lived a life in that one spot, they haven’t moved. This poem seemed
to touch me, made me think deeper as to the existence of trees and nature.
What is the main
subject or image?
I think the main subject of this poem ‘The Tree Pulled
Down’ is existence of the tree, the life of the part of nature before it gets
chopped down.
What does the poem
mean?
The poem has a meaning, like most poems do…all poems
actually. In this instance, this poem means that all trees do have life, they
do live a life and it may be in the one spot but throughout a tree’s life, they
have been through sunshine and snow (if it falls in the area), rain and hail.
Trees’ have seen many sights from their one spot, and have seen many different
people. Not only does a tree have a life, but trees also make a life for some
animals especially birds. Trees are homes, whether safe or not, they are homes.
How does it say
it?
The poem gets this meaning across by talking about the
what happens in the surroundings of a tree, with descriptive words making the
poem a lot more interesting to read, making the poem come to life itself.
What other
texts/events do you think the poem connects to?
I think this poem connects to any movie, book, song –
anything, related to trees and the nature we come across every day of our lives
that we may not think twice about, may not glance twice at. It’s kind of like
walking past a stranger; there is a life we have just walked past without
second guessing what it could be like, what they have experienced and seen etc.
A Warning to Young Poets – page 121
What do I notice about the poem at first?
I first notice the use of really big words.
What is most
striking/memorable about the poem?
The most striking thing about the poem is, in my opinion,
the understanding of the younger generation.
Do I like the
poem? Does it grow on me?
I do like the poem and yes it does grow on me.
What is the main
subject or image?
The main subject of the poem is young poets and things
they may write about or say, some they mean and some they don’t but for all
they regret they shall be forgiven for as they enter a big world of more poems
than they could have guessed.
What does the poem
mean?
The poem simply means that young poets will be forgiven
for their life of not 100% kindness before they began writing poems and
expressing emotions in ways other than how they may have been.
How does it say
it?
Simple, the words say that they shall be forgiven for
their ‘youthfulness’.
What other
texts/events do you think the poem connects to?
I think the poem connects to the younger generation and
all young people who have an interest in writing and expressing their emotions
and arguments.
Unemployed – page 183
What do I notice about the poem at first?
The title is always noticed first, but as I read on from
the title, I first notice the poem being written in first person.
What is most
striking/memorable about the poem?
I think the most striking thing about the poem is the way
the poet connects being unemployed to visiting a zoo.
Do I like the
poem? Does it grow on me?
I do like the poem, I think it’s rather different to
others I have read and it does stand out, it does grow on me.
What is the main
subject or image?
The main subject of the poem is feelings of being
unemployed.
What does the poem
mean?
The poem means that there are much more feelings inside a
person who struggles to find a job other than disappointment and desperation.
How does it say
it?
It connects being unemployed to visiting a zoo, in a
rather different but interesting and logical manner.
What other
texts/events do you think the poem connects to?
The poem connects to anybody who is unemployed whether
they have children or not, a wife/husband or not, anybody who struggles to find
a job and the emotions they may feel.
The River – page 300
What do I notice about the poem at first?
I first notice how the poem is set out – each line of
words contains only few.
What is most
striking/memorable about the poem?
The most striking thing about the poem is serious thought
that we could lose somebody at any moment, any day, any year… death is a
promise and it happens to everybody, but we don’t always know when.
Do I like the
poem? Does it grow on me?
I do like the poem, it grows on me, yes, and I think the
way the poet explains the view they are putting across is easy to relate to.
What is the main
subject or image?
The main subject of the poem is the emotions felt knowing
you could lose somebody at any time.
What does the poem
mean?
The poem simply means that you could lose somebody at any
time, and there is always chances of your child/children going missing or dying
when they go to play at the river.
How does it say
it?
It says it how it is, in the context of a poem anybody
could easily relate to.
What other
texts/events do you think the poem connects to?
I think the poem connects to events of death, mostly
deaths by a river.
