'Travels With John Hunter' by Les Murray

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We who travel between worlds
lose our muscle and bone.
I was wheeling a barrow of earth
when agony bayoneted me.

I could not sit, or lie down,
or stand, in Casualty.
Stomach-calming clay caked my lips,
I turned yellow as the moon

and slid inside a CAT-scan wheel
in a hospital where I met no one
so much was my liver now my dire
preoccupation. I was sped down a road.

of treetops and fishing-rod lightpoles
towards the three persons of God
and the three persons of John Hunter
Hospital. Who said We might lose this one.

Twenty days or to the heat-death
of the Universe have the same duration:
vaguely half a hour. I awoke
giggling over a joke

about Paul Kruger in Johannesburg
and missed the white court stockings
I half remembered from my prone
still voyage beyond flesh and bone.

I asked my friend who got new lungs
How long were you crazy, coming back?
Five days, he said. Violent and mad.
Fictive Afrikaner police were at him,

not unworldly Oom Paul Kruger.
Valerie, who had sat the twenty days
beside me, now gently told me tales
of my time-warp. The operative canyon

stretched, stapled, with dry roseate walls
down my belly. Seaweed gel
plugged views of my pluck and offal.
The only poet whose liver

damage hadn't been self-inflicted,
grinned my agent. A momentarily
holed bowel had released flora
who live in us and will eat us

when we stop feeding them the earth.
I had, it did seem, rehearsed
the private office of the grave,
ceased excreting, made corpse gases

all while liana'd in tubes
and overseen by cockpit instruments
that beeped or struck up Beethoven's
Fifth at behests of fluid.

I also hear when I lay lipless
and far away I was anointed
first by a mild metaphoric church
then by the Church of no metaphors.

Now I said, signing a Dutch contract
in a hand I couldn't recognise,
let's go and eat Chinese soup
and drive to Lake Macquarie. Was I

not renewed as we are in Heaven?
In fact I could hardly endure
Earth gravity, and stayed weak and cranky
till the soup came, squid and vegetables,

pure Yang. And was sane thereafter.
It seemed I'd also travelled
in a Spring-in-Winter love-barque of cards,
of flowers and phone calls and letters,

concern I'd never dreamed was there
when black kelp boiled in my head.
I'd awoken amid my State funeral,
nevermore to eat my liver

or feed it to the Black Dog, depression
which the three Johns Hunter seem
to have killed with their scalpels:
it hasn't found its way home,

where I now dodder and mend
in thanks for devotion, for the ambulance
this time, for the hospital fork lift,
for pethidine, and this face of deity:

not the foreknowledge of death
but the project of seeing conscious life
rescued from death defines and will
atone for the human.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Travels With John Hunter: Les Murray's Classic Poem

Les Murray's poem, Travels With John Hunter, is a classic piece of literature that explores the themes of travel, nature, and human nature. Written in a narrative style, the poem takes us on a journey through the Australian outback with the protagonist, John Hunter. Through Hunter's eyes, we see the beauty and harshness of nature, the struggles of human existence, and the search for meaning in life.

The Narrative Structure of the Poem

The poem is structured as a series of vignettes, each one describing a different episode in John Hunter's journey. The narrative begins with Hunter traveling through the outback with his dog, Jack. We see Hunter as a solitary figure, wandering through the vast expanse of the desert. Murray's vivid descriptions of the landscape create a sense of awe and wonder, as we are transported to this remote and beautiful place.

As the poem progresses, we see Hunter encountering various people and animals along the way. He helps a family whose car has broken down, he meets a group of Aborigines who invite him to join in their celebrations, and he witnesses the cruelty of men towards animals. Through these encounters, we see the complexity of human nature, as well as the interconnectedness of all living things.

The Themes of Travel and Nature

One of the major themes of the poem is travel. Murray portrays travel as a way of escaping the mundane and experiencing the world in all its complexity. Hunter's journey through the outback is a metaphor for the journey of life itself. We see him confronting challenges, meeting new people, and discovering new things about himself and the world around him.

Another theme of the poem is nature. Murray creates a sense of awe and wonder in the reader through his vivid descriptions of the natural world. He portrays nature as both beautiful and harsh, with its vast deserts, rugged mountains, and exotic animals. Through his descriptions, we see the interconnectedness of all living things, and the delicate balance that exists in the natural world.

The Search for Meaning in Life

Perhaps the most profound theme of the poem is the search for meaning in life. Murray creates a sense of existential angst in the reader, as we see Hunter struggling to find purpose and meaning in his journey. He searches for answers to life's big questions, such as the meaning of existence, the nature of happiness, and the role of human beings in the world.

Through his encounters with the people and animals of the outback, Hunter comes to realize that the answer to these questions is not found in intellectual pursuits or abstract theories, but in the simple act of living. He learns that life is a journey, and that the meaning of that journey is found in the experience itself.

The Poetic Style of Les Murray

Les Murray is known for his unique poetic style, which blends the traditional with the modern. His use of rhyme, meter, and alliteration creates a sense of musicality in his poetry, while his use of unconventional language and imagery creates a sense of freshness and originality.

In Travels With John Hunter, Murray's use of language is particularly striking. He uses colloquial language to create a sense of authenticity and realism, while his use of Australian idioms and slang adds a sense of cultural specificity to the poem. Through his use of language, Murray creates a sense of place and time, transporting the reader to the Australian outback of the 20th century.

Conclusion

Travels With John Hunter is a classic poem that explores the themes of travel, nature, and the search for meaning in life. Through his narrative style and vivid descriptions, Les Murray creates a sense of awe and wonder in the reader, transporting us to the remote and beautiful outback of Australia. His use of language and imagery creates a sense of musicality and freshness, while his exploration of human nature and the complexities of existence adds depth and meaning to the poem. Overall, Travels With John Hunter is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire, to move, and to enlighten.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Travels With John Hunter: A Poem of Exploration and Discovery

Les Murray’s Travels With John Hunter is a classic poem that takes readers on a journey of exploration and discovery. The poem is a tribute to John Hunter, a renowned Scottish surgeon and anatomist who lived in the 18th century. Murray’s poem is a celebration of Hunter’s life and work, and it is a testament to the power of exploration and discovery.

The poem is structured in a series of vignettes that describe Hunter’s travels and his encounters with different people and cultures. The poem begins with Hunter’s arrival in Australia, where he is greeted by the indigenous people. Murray describes the scene in vivid detail, painting a picture of a land that is both beautiful and mysterious. The poem captures the sense of wonder and awe that Hunter must have felt as he explored this new world.

As the poem progresses, Murray takes us on a journey through Hunter’s life, describing his travels to different parts of the world and his encounters with different cultures. We see Hunter in Africa, where he is confronted with the horrors of the slave trade. We see him in the Americas, where he is fascinated by the native cultures and their customs. And we see him in Europe, where he is celebrated as a great scientist and thinker.

Throughout the poem, Murray celebrates Hunter’s curiosity and his willingness to explore and discover. He portrays Hunter as a man who was driven by a deep sense of wonder and a desire to understand the world around him. Murray’s poem is a celebration of the human spirit of exploration and discovery, and it is a reminder of the importance of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language. Murray’s writing is rich and evocative, and he uses language to create a sense of place and atmosphere. He describes the landscapes and the people in vivid detail, and he captures the essence of each place and culture that Hunter encounters. The poem is a masterclass in descriptive writing, and it is a joy to read.

Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of imagery. Murray uses imagery to create a sense of movement and momentum, and he uses it to convey the sense of exploration and discovery that is at the heart of the poem. The imagery is often vivid and powerful, and it helps to bring the poem to life.

One of the most powerful moments in the poem comes towards the end, when Murray describes Hunter’s death. He writes:

“John Hunter died in London town, his body laid in state. The people came to mourn him down, and praise his curious fate.”

This moment is a reminder of the impact that Hunter had on the world, and it is a testament to the power of exploration and discovery. Hunter’s legacy lives on, and his curiosity and sense of wonder continue to inspire people to this day.

In conclusion, Les Murray’s Travels With John Hunter is a classic poem that celebrates the human spirit of exploration and discovery. It is a tribute to John Hunter, a man who was driven by a deep sense of wonder and a desire to understand the world around him. Murray’s writing is rich and evocative, and he uses language and imagery to create a sense of place and atmosphere. The poem is a reminder of the importance of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge, and it is a joy to read.

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