Australia by Ania Walwicz

The prose poem Australia (1981) written by Ania Walwicz conveys her emotions
about Australia, Australian perspectives and Australian people. The audience is
most likely native Australians, telling them of their unkindness and close-
mindedness, often accusing them with the pronoun of you.

The poem is mainly about the unwelcoming attitude and over glorified Australian
culture. In the poem it generalizes Australia and all of its people as Walwicz
personifies Australia the country itself and the population as you. She stereotypes
by saying that all Australians are the same, all closed off to change and difference.
This is not a usual stereotype as Australia is usually portrayed as an enjoyable and
welcoming. However, even though she has foregrounded a side that is not usually
conveyed she is still ignoring all the other people that do not fit into the stereotype,
even though the vast majority may fit not all of them will, silencing all of them and
stereotyping them. Many Australians would disagree with the point of view, still
believing in their pride for their country, that she portrays as it does not reflect
positively on Australia, even though it may have been the truth at the time. The
poem does not seem to flow as it merely lists her feelings with not connections from
one line to the next. The poem ends very abruptly, ending with a You shiver on a
tram, therefore making it seem as if the ending was interrupted.

Walwicz uses simple, straightforward language to make the ideas foregrounded and
emphasised. She often uses short sentences to convey her message simply. You
big ugly. You too empty. You desert with your nothing nothing nothing. In this
extract, even though the language is not completely correct, portrays the message
clearly as she writes her emotions as they are and does not elaborate or hint at
them. The writing is blatant and does not usually repeat the same idea more than
once, constantly shifting between faults, Ive seen enough already. You Dumb dirty
city with bar stools. Youre ugly. You silly shoppingtown. Therefore this style is
messy and irregular but does emphasise all points equally and brings forward each
element.

Another language technique that she uses predominantly is repetition. She often
repeats words to put more emphasis on certain ideas, Beach beach beach. Ive
seen enough already. In this extract, it emphasises how there is nothing except
the beach in Australia and in a short period of time she has already seen all
Australia has to offer. Her writing is rather derogatory, using insulting stereotypes,
using the repetition to emphasise her unhappiness and the overrated culture of
Australia, You big cow. You average average. Therefore this language technique
can effectively emphasise certain points more than others and even bring out other
elements.

This poem has brought out the negative light of Australia that was usually silenced
in that time. This poem gives a point of view of Australia from a foreigner,
foregrounding the elements that arent usually mentioned. It allows people to
understand different views of Australia, coming from different sources, allowing
them to better understand Australia and its people. The purpose of the poem was
most likely to show the almost two faced side of Australians and effectively does so
by showing Migrant Australia of that time.

The Poem:

You big ugly.

You too empty.
You desert with your nothing nothing nothing.
You scorched suntanned.
Old too quickly.
Acres of suburbs watching the telly.
You bore me.
Freckle silly children.
You nothing much.

With your big sea.

Beach beach beach.
Ive seen enough already.
You Dumb dirty city with bar stools.
Youre ugly.
You silly shoppingtown.
You copy.
You too far everywhere.
You laugh at me.
When I came this woman gave me a box of biscuits.
You try to be friendly but youre not very friendly.

You never ask me to your house.

You insult me.
You dont know how to be with me.
Road road tree tree.
I came from crowded and many.
I came from rich.
You have nothing to offer.
Youre poor and spread thin.
You big.
So what.
Im small.
Its whats in.
You silent on Sunday.
Nobody on your streets.
You dead at night.
You go to sleep too early.
You dont excite me.
You scare me with your hopeless.
Asleep when you walk.
Too hot to think.
You big awful.
You dont match me.
You burnt out.
You too big sky.
You make me a dot in the nowhere.
You laugh with your big healthy.
You want everyone to be the same.
Youre dumb.
You do like anybody else.
You engaged Doreen.

You big cow.

You average average.
Cold day at school playing around at lunchtime.
Running around for nothing.
You never accept me.
For your own.
You always ask me where Im from.
You always ask me.
You tell me I look strange.
Different.
You dont adopt me.
You laugh at the way I speak.

You think youre better than me.

You dont like me.
You dont have any Interest in another country.
Idiot centre of your own self.
You think the rest of the world walks around without shoes or electric light.
You dont go anywhere.
You stay at home.
You like one another.
You go crazy on Saturday night.
You get drunk.
You dont like me and you dont like women.
You put your arm around men in bars.
Youre rough.
I cant speak to you.
You burly burly.
Youre just silly to me.
You big man.
Poor with all your money.
You ugly furniture.
You ugly house.
Relaxed in your summer stupor: All year.
Never fully awake.
Dull at school.
Wait for other people to tell you what to do.
Follow the leader.
Cant imagine.
Work horse.
Thick legs.
You go to work in the morning.
You shiver on a tram