This poem deals with nature descriptions about Australia. It was written in order to inform people about the beauty and the wilderness of this country. Dorothea Mackellar’s ‘My Country’ is a poem expressing Mackellar’s deep passion and love for her country, Australia. The whole poem’s intention seems to evoke the sense of praising for the country and express Mackellar’s deep love for the country.
The poem seems to evoke the sense of praising for the country and Dorothy’s deep love for her country. The poem talks about the nature in Australia. The poem expresses about how beautiful the wildlife and surroundings in Australia are. Dorothea Mackellar talks about her deep passion and love for her country, Australia.
The poem seems to evoke the sense of praising for the country and Dorothy’s deep love for her country.
The poem begins with Mackellar describing another country. This is because she has portrayed it as “ordered woods” and soft, dim skies”. But then she continues and the tone becomes more of a love affair with Australia with Mackellar saying “My love is otherwise”. This brings to mind Australia’s natural assets. The beauty in the abundant and varied landscapes.
Onomatopoeia – “drumming of an army” creates a feel that soldiers are marching to the beat of nature.
Alliteration – “lithe linanas”, “flood, fire and famine”. The use of alliteration helps to emphasize the characteristics of Australian rural life.
Imagery – An example of this is “of droughts and flooding rains”. This describes Australia as cruel in times of droughts and unpredictable in the rainy season.
Personification –
She pays us back three-fold.
Her pitiless blue sky,
Her beauty and her terror,
I love her jewel-sea,
By using this technique the poet personifies Australia. It gives the feel Australia isn’t just a lifeless piece of land.
Metaphor
Of ordered woods and gardens,
Is running in your veins,
Sunburnt country
tragic to the moon
Imagery
Her pitiless blue sky,
As someone who lives in Australia I understand what a beautiful country it is and how lucky I am to live here. It makes me realise that Australia isn’t just where I call home it’s a beautiful land filled with amazing creatures and landscapes. It is talking about all the wonders Australia has to offer, it’s jewelled seas and its sapphire-misted mountains.
To share how beautiful Australia is. Dorothy wants the reader to understand her point of view of Australia. Dorothy praised the wide landscape and rich resources of the young nation. This is how she wants us to view Australia.