'Eurunderee' by Henry Lawson
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There are scenes in the distance where beauty is not,
On the desolate flats where gaunt appletrees rot.
Where the brooding old ridge rises up to the breeze
From his dark lonely gullies of stringy-bark trees,
There are voice-haunted gaps, ever sullen and strange,
But Eurunderee lies like a gem in the range.
Still I see in my fancy the dark-green and blue
Of the box-covered hills where the five-corners grew;
And the rugged old sheoaks that sighed in the bend
O'er the lily-decked pools where the dark ridges end,
And the scrub-covered spurs running down from the Peak
To the deep grassy banks of Eurunderee Creek.
On the knolls where the vineyards and fruit-gardens are
There's a beauty that even the drought cannot mar;
For I noticed it oft, in the days that are lost,
As I trod on the siding where lingered the frost,
When the shadows of night from the gullies were gone
And the hills in the background were flushed by the dawn.
I was there in late years, but there's many a change
Where the Cudgegong River flows down through the range,
For the curse of the town with the railroad had come,
And the goldfields were dead.And the girl and the chum
And the old home were gone, yet the oaks seemed to speak
Of the hazy old days on Eurunderee Creek.
And I stood by that creek, ere the sunset grew cold,
When the leaves of the sheoaks are traced on the gold,
And I thought of old things, and I thought of old folks,
Till I sighed in my heart to the sigh of the oaks;
For the years waste away like the waters that leak
Through the pebbles and sand of Eurunderee Creek.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Eurunderee: A Literary Masterpiece
Introduction
Poetry is a powerful medium that allows writers to express their thoughts and emotions in a creative and impactful way. Henry Lawson was one such writer who used poetry to depict the harsh realities of life in the Australian outback. His poem "Eurunderee" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the Australian bush and the struggles of its inhabitants. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes, imagery, and symbolism used in the poem and appreciate its literary significance.
Background
Henry Lawson was born in 1867 in Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia. He spent much of his childhood in the bush, which later became the inspiration for his literary works. Lawson was a prolific writer and is considered one of the most significant Australian writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works reflect the harsh and lonely life in the outback and the struggles of the working class. "Eurunderee" is one such poem that portrays the lives of the people in the bush and their hardships.
Themes
The poem "Eurunderee" primarily deals with the theme of loneliness and isolation. The people living in the bush lead a secluded life, far from the comforts and luxuries of the city. The poem depicts the loneliness of a shepherd who spends his days in the vast, empty fields with his flock. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the piece:
On the wastes of Eurunderee Where the weather's always dry, Dwelt a stockman, name of Flynn, Old, brown, tough, and gruff of skin;
The repetition of the word "dry" emphasizes the barrenness of the land, and the description of the stockman as "old, brown, tough, and gruff of skin" highlights his ruggedness and isolation. The poem also touches upon the theme of nostalgia and the longing for a better life. The stockman dreams of a life where he can escape the harshness of the bush and live a more comfortable life:
Ah! It's well that I remember How I saw young Mary Lee, With her hair as black as midnight, And her eyes as dark as tea, With her cheeks as brown as bottle, And her figure straight and slim, And I'll never forget her kindness When she smiled and came to him.
The contrast between Mary's beauty and the barrenness of the land emphasizes the stockman's longing for a better life. The repetition of the word "never" in the last line highlights the intensity of his longing.
Imagery
The poem uses vivid and powerful imagery to depict the harshness of life in the bush. The opening lines of the poem paint a picture of the barrenness of the land:
On the wastes of Eurunderee Where the weather's always dry,
The repetition of the word "dry" emphasizes the aridness of the land. The poem also uses sensory imagery to describe the environment:
And at night in fiery vapours Through the dust the moon would rise, Like a red and angry spirit In the dark and lonely skies.
The use of the word "fiery" and the image of the moon as a "red and angry spirit" create a sense of foreboding and danger. The poem also uses animal imagery to describe the stockman and his flock:
And his hardy mountain horses Intermingled with the sheep, As they wandered o'er the paddock In the silence, wide and deep.
The use of the words "hardy" and "mountain" to describe the horses emphasizes their toughness and resilience in the harsh landscape. The image of the sheep wandering in the "silence, wide and deep" creates a sense of loneliness and isolation.
Symbolism
The poem also uses symbolism to convey its themes. The stockman and his flock can be seen as a symbol of the people living in the bush. They are isolated and cut off from the rest of society, much like the stockman and his sheep are cut off from the world. The moon can also be seen as a symbol of the harshness of the environment. Its fiery and angry appearance reflects the dangers and difficulties of life in the bush. The image of young Mary Lee can be seen as a symbol of hope and a better future. Her beauty and kindness represent the possibility of a better life beyond the barrenness of the land.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Eurunderee" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of life in the Australian bush. It deals with themes of loneliness, isolation, and longing for a better life. Through vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, the poem conveys the harshness of the environment and the struggles of its inhabitants. Henry Lawson's masterful use of language and poetic devices makes "Eurunderee" a literary masterpiece that is still relevant today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Eurunderee: A Masterpiece of Australian Poetry
Henry Lawson, one of the most celebrated poets of Australia, is known for his realistic and poignant portrayal of the Australian bush and its people. His poem "Eurunderee" is a classic example of his mastery in capturing the essence of the Australian landscape and its inhabitants. In this article, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and literary devices to understand its significance in Australian literature.
The poem "Eurunderee" is set in the rural town of Eurunderee, located in New South Wales, Australia. The poem is a reflection of Lawson's personal experiences in the town, where he spent his childhood. The poem is written in the first person, and the narrator is a young boy who is fascinated by the beauty and simplicity of the town. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different tone and theme.
The first stanza of the poem is a description of the town and its surroundings. The narrator describes the town as a place where "the hills are grey and the woods are dun." The use of color imagery creates a sense of bleakness and desolation, which is a common feature of the Australian landscape. The narrator also describes the town as a place where "the sunsets glow with a lurid light." The use of the word "lurid" suggests that the narrator is not entirely comfortable with the town's surroundings, but at the same time, he is fascinated by its beauty.
The second stanza of the poem is a reflection of the narrator's childhood memories. The narrator describes how he used to play in the town's creek and how he used to watch the "old bullock teams" as they passed through the town. The use of the word "old" suggests that the narrator is nostalgic about his childhood and the simplicity of life in the town. The narrator also describes how he used to listen to the "bellbirds' notes" and how they used to fill him with a sense of wonder and joy. The use of the word "notes" suggests that the narrator is not only listening to the birds' songs but also the emotions that they evoke in him.
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection of the narrator's present state of mind. The narrator describes how he has grown up and how he has left the town behind. The use of the word "gone" suggests that the narrator has moved on from the town and its surroundings. The narrator also describes how he feels a sense of longing for the town and its simplicity. The use of the word "yearn" suggests that the narrator is not entirely happy with his current life and that he longs for the simplicity of his childhood.
The poem's themes are centered around the Australian landscape, childhood memories, and the passage of time. The poem's structure is simple, with each stanza representing a different stage in the narrator's life. The use of color imagery, personification, and metaphorical language creates a sense of realism and depth in the poem. The poem's use of language is simple yet powerful, which is a common feature of Lawson's poetry.
In conclusion, "Eurunderee" is a masterpiece of Australian poetry that captures the essence of the Australian landscape and its people. The poem's themes of childhood memories, the passage of time, and the Australian landscape are universal and relatable. The poem's structure, use of language, and literary devices create a sense of realism and depth that is characteristic of Lawson's poetry. "Eurunderee" is a timeless piece of Australian literature that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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