Sydney and the Bush- Les A. Murray

“A true poem is dreamed and danced as well as thought.”-

Les A. Murray

 Above Image: Sourced http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_5/gregsmith.htm

A Short Profile of Les A. Murray

Born:                   1938 in Nabiac (Village, North Coast of New South Wales)

Education:          1957 studied at the University of Sydney

Themes:              Murray’s poems range and are diverse. Some explore life and nature, human existence, his association with ‘the people’, the country and his strong beliefs and connection with what it means to be Australian.

Sydney and the Bush

When Sydney and the Bush.........

Change. Within the context and analysis of poems the continual appearance of change is apparent within the landscape poets are conveying. It is through the use of this repetition that we as the responder may see this pattern as a message. It can make us question ourselves and our role in this change. Regardless of the lines ending ‘When Sydney and the Bush’, these words are repeated through this entire poem. Les A. Murray has use ‘Sydney’ and ‘Bush’ in a way of demonstrating man and nature. Continually through the poem the interaction of human activity meeting the bush or interrelating with some aspects of our natural environment. This approach used by Murray is establishing what appears to be a connection with the human and natural elements of our surrounding and n doing so is introducing the idea of ‘cause and effect’.

The causes of an increase in infrastructure or any man-made developments come at a cost, an effect to the natural side of the environment. Murray has presented this concept through the juxtaposition found in stanza 4, line 1- ‘Then Bushmen sank and factories rose’. This technique has been used effectively to support the concept of ‘cause and effect’ in developing factories, this comes at a cost. ‘Then bushmen sank’ highlights the effect human inhabitants has upon the natural environment and the people who rely on its nourishment. The inclusion of bushmen- introducing a human element and relationship initiates a new concept; it is not only the physical landscape that is being destroyed, rather not all humans are these destroyers. It portrays a new outlook on the when Sydney (Humans) meets the Bush (Nature) as who are we to categorise all humans as the destroyers. In detaching this meaning from the poem, Murray is trying to sympathise with the inhabitants of society who wish to preserve the ‘Bush’. It is this observation that we may again contradict the concept that has already been presented and see Sydney and the Bush in a new light; maybe it is not literally Humans vs. Nature, rather the New World vs. The Old.

Regardless of your perception of this battle, evidently we can see a change is apparent within the poem. In order to achieve change we must embark on a journey. The use of past tense in ‘The convicts bled and warders bred’ – Stanza 2, Line 1 supports the concept of the journey experienced by the responder which illustrates the changing relationship with our environment; Sydney and the Bush. The alliteration used in ‘bled and bred’ is associated with connotations of growth and spreading.  When something bleeds is spreads and runs fast with no control, this replicates the convicts and the prison guards upon their arrival of Australia. They too bled through our country where the ‘bush’- our land, possessing any control over these happenings. This is a prominent concern conveyed by Murray in this poem showing the land- the ‘bush’ being taken over with no control in what will come next. Murrary is illustrating the vulnerable nature of the land and the inconsiderate behaviours of society and the extent they will go to in order to benefit as much as they can. Taking advantage of Mother Nature’s role as a provider and this is where we can see the greed of society, these evil beings which we are becoming, who are self-absorbed and only looking for what comes next, what is required to upgrade our lifestyle. In doing this we are loosing our humanity; we are becoming vultures rather than replenishing the land. Murray in this sense is presenting that these new inhabitants who bled and bred are the reason why this has happened. This transformation society is facing in drawing Sydney closer to the Bush. Where there will be ‘No common ground’- Stanza 7, Line 4.

These ideas and concepts are again represented in the journey shown in the third stanza’s introductory line ‘When Sydney ordered lavish books and warmed her feet with coal’. The term book is symbolism for the new, growing knowledge the inhabitants possess in relation to the environment and what it could provide for them; what they could get from it. Books are a source or knowledge and can deepens ones understanding regarding a particular issue. This is what the land is providing for its inhabitants, being like a book; was a source of knowledge, where once you possess and understand this knowledge great things can immerse. Rather in these ‘great things’ Murray is trying to draw the responder’s attention to humanity. The term ‘warmed’ brings connotations of a warm welcome, the inhabitants are welcoming this source with open hands but Murray is trying to emphasise it is also ok to close your hands. Don’t lose your yourself in amongst this angst of what it will provide for you, how it can benefit or how it will affect you. Remember not to take advantage of this source as it is the provider and once it is destroyed what will there be left to provide?
What will remain of your physical landscape?  
What will remain left of you?

Below: My annotated copy of Sydney by the Bush by Les A. Murray