At Cooloola

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At Cooloola 

At Cooloola is a lyrical poem written by a well recognized Australian poet, Judith Wright. This poem creatively describes a

beautiful scene of nature. The poet uses highly descriptive language and a diverse range of poetic devices to engage the

reader into imagining a picture of how peaceful and serene this exquisite the scenery is down by Lake Cooloola. Underlying the

subject matter is the implied theme that the lake is under threat from “conquering people” who will not protect its “white shores

of sand, plumreed and paperbark”. This poem reflects Judith Wright’s concern for our special and unique flora and fauna, how

fortunate we are to have stunning scenery, how easily mankind can destroy it, and our need to appreciate it. 

This poem portrays the unfortunate incident that occurred at Lake Cooloola due to white settlement. This tragic poem captures

the essence of the peaceful partnership the wildlife shares with the land. 

“Walking on clean sand among prints of bird and animal” 

This illustrates the tranquil scene before the massacre of the Aboriginal people took place. 

“The invader’s feet will tangle in nets there and his blood be thinned by fears” 

This quote from the poem found in stanza three describes how after many years of the invasion, white people started to feel

sorry and remorseful for the impact which white settlement had on Aborigines. This relates to Judith Wright’s concern for the

Aboriginal people and the land which human settl...

Poetry Analysis

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At Cooloola

By Judith Wright

At Cooloola talks about how things have been the same in Australia for

centuries, but now it is all changing. The poem is written from the perspective

of Judith, who is young and new to Australia. The poem makes mention of

Judith's grandfather who was an original white settler who came over as a

convict.This is a poem of guilt, Judith feels guilty for what happened to

Australia and it's natives. She feels this guilt because it was her race of people

who inflicted the damage. The poem is also reflecting on some of the events

through the eyes of the author and how the aboriginal people still believe that

spiritually, Australia is still theirs.

This poem relates the European settlement because the poem is a reflection

of white settlement through the eyes of Judith Wright. At Cooloola also relates

to the topic of white settlement in Australia because it shows the feeling of

guilt that a European has, it shows that not all of the settlers where as cruel as

the aboriginals first portrayed them to be. The line that says 'conquering

people' refers to the white settlers also.

Who Are We?By Richard G Kennedy

'Who Are We' is a poem about vengeance and change and impact, it

expresses these topics through lines like 'Our lives changed forever when

white man came, an idyllic lifestyle never to be the same' and 'Know that a

vengeful spirit will surely awake'. The poem says the change is irreversible

and that there are feelings of loss, hopelessness and sadness. The poet has

also talked about how the changes so long ago have affected the aboriginal's

quality of life, that they are of low status, have no respect for themselves and

get no respect from others. The poet has got a very good moral to his poem

which is that 'you shouldn't try to change someone or something'.

‘Who Are We’ is a poem that relates to white settlement because the change

that is talked about is in fact white settlement in Australia. The poem also

expresses the impact of white settlement upon modern aboriginals, that is

crime, no identity etc. This poem also represents the emotions and beliefs of

aboriginals, so it sees white settlement in Australia through the eyes of the

native race, this is good because you get another view on European

settlement.

At Cooloola is a lyrical poem written by a well recognized Australian poet,

Judith Wright. This poem creatively describes a beautiful scene of nature. The

poet uses highly descriptive language and a diverse range of poetic devices to

engage the reader into imagining a picture of how peaceful and serene this

exquisite the scenery is down by Lake Cooloola. Underlying the subject matter is

the implied theme that the lake is under threat from “conquering people” who

will not protect its “white shores of sand, plumreed and paperbark”. This poem

reflects Judith Wright’s concern for our special and unique flora and fauna, how

fortunate we are to have stunning scenery, how easily mankind can destroy it,

and our need to appreciate it.

This poem portrays the unfortunate incident that occurred at Lake Cooloola due

to white settlement. This tragic poem captures the essence of the peaceful

partnership the wildlife shares with the land.

“Walking on clean sand among prints of bird and animal”

This illustrates the tranquil scene before the massacre of the Aboriginal people

took place.

“The invader’s feet will tangle in nets there and his blood be thinned by fears”

This quote from the poem found in stanza three describes how after many years

of the invasion, white people started to feel sorry and remorseful for the impact

which white settlement had on Aborigines. This relates to Judith Wright’s

concern for the Aboriginal people and the land which human settlement has

caused to be destroyed by technology. The effective portrayal of poetic devices

is developed through the poet’s extravagant use of descriptive language.

Judith Wright’s knowledgeable use of poetic devices enhances the reader’s

enjoyment and understanding of the white invasion that occurred in Australia

many years ago through the use of metaphors, imagery and rhyme. “The blue

crane fishing” is an example of a metaphor as a crane is a species of bird but it is

also a type of rod used for fishing. The poet uses this to show the difference

between how the Aborigines used to hunt for food independently and how the

settlers who arrived in Australia manufactured food which changed the way

Aborigines lived. Throughout this entire poem Wright uses rhyme. For example

Stanza Two:

“But I’m a stranger; come of conquering people.

I cannot share his calm, who watch his lake,

Being loves by all my eyes delight in,

and made uneasy, for an old murder’s sake”,

The reason why this is used is because it gives the poem a flowing rhythm which

describes how the years just flowed by for the Aborigines (How their times were

changed so much). Although the language contained in the poem is simple, it is

extremely effective. The language is accessible through the poet’s use of brief

descriptive words.

The main theme which Wright has tried to imply throughout this poem is how

badly Aborigines were treated when the white settlers took aver Australia and

how they were forced to adopt different ways of living.

Overall Judith Wright’s poem ‘At Cooloola’ has one main meaning which is

consistent and clear throughout the six stanzas. The poem effectively explores

the notion of the delicacy of our native land and people; this creates a vivid and

vibrant picture of remorse and resentment. Consequently, this proposition is

reflected throughout her poem by her wide range of language which seems to

indicate that her intentions were to give people the knowledge of what our native

Australians went through and how the settlement of white people has

dramatically destroyed the Australian out back.