Kath Walker's 1960 Poem Municipal Gum

Kath Walker's 1960 poem Municipal Gum refers to the ill treatment of aboriginal people and Feliks Skrzynecki written by Peter Skrzynecki is an expression of the feelings of new migrants. The differing but yet similar contexts of the two poems are reflective of the society during the times they were written in and portray a changing Australian voice and hence a changing perspective. This is evident through close analysis of the themes of the differing nature of alienation and internal suffering which are presented in both of the poems in their unique ways.

Municipal Gum expresses the change in the Australian voice through oppression of the Aboriginal people by the European settlers causing them to feel alienated in their own country. In the beginning of the poem the poet addresses a tree which is a symbol for the aboriginal people. The use of juxtaposition "Gumtree in the city street" shows the reader that the gumtree is in the 'city street' and not in its natural habitat and hence the alienation. The aboriginal people have been denied their natural homes and way of life and forced to conform to the European culture. The personification "Hard bitumen around your feet" conveys the lack of freedom aboriginal people had due to the dominance of the White Australians. Kath Walker's poem is reflective of the changes in the society and the Australian voice/perspective of that time as it portrays the alienation of the aboriginal people due to oppression and dominance.

Feliks Skrzynecki, the poem represents the alienation......

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