“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, “I´ve seen enough already. You Dumb dirty city with bar stools. You´re 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. I´ve 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 aren’t 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.
I´ve seen enough already.
You Dumb dirty city with bar stools.
You´re 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 you´re not very friendly.
You never ask me to your house.
You insult me.
You don´t 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.
You´re poor and spread thin.
You big.
So what.
I´m small.
It´s what´s in.
You silent on Sunday.
Nobody on your streets.
You dead at night.
You go to sleep too early.
You don´t excite me.
You scare me with your hopeless.
Asleep when you walk.
Too hot to think.
You big awful.
You don´t 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.
You´re 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 I´m from.
You always ask me.
You tell me I look strange.
Different.
You don´t adopt me.
You laugh at the way I speak.
You think you´re better than me.
You don´t like me.
You don´t 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 don´t go anywhere.
You stay at home.
You like one another.
You go crazy on Saturday night.
You get drunk.
You don´t like me and you don´t like women.
You put your arm around men in bars.
You´re rough.
I can´t speak to you.
You burly burly.
You´re 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.
Can´t imagine.
Work horse.
Thick legs.
You go to work in the morning.
You shiver on a tram