LibGuides: English: Australian Poetry

Australian Poetry

Australian Poetry Library
Tens of thousands of poems by Australian poets, famous and obscure, for you to search and read.
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Australian Poetry Library. (2018). Retrieved May 12, 2018 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/
Australian Children’s Poetry
Australian poets writing poetry for children.
Try reading the Poem a Day blog.
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Australian Children’s Poetry. (2016). Retrieved May 12, 2018 from https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/
Australian Poetry Slam
A link to the Australian Poetry Slam competition.
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Australian Poetry Slam. (2018). Retrieved May 12, 2018 from http://www.australianpoetryslam.com/
Australian Society of Poets
Includes poem or thought for the day, you can post your poem, or search by poet or poem.
Australian Bush Poets Association
21 Best-loved Aussie Poems, Ballads & Songs
Australia's best-known works of literature and song lyrics with some background information
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Retrieved May 11th 2019 from https://australianteacher.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/best-loved-aussie-poems-ballads-songs.pdf

War poetry

Anti-war Poet Bruce Dawe

The Measure
by Dame Mary Gilmore, published in 1919. Gilmore features on the Australian $10 note. This poem was read by former Governor-General Quentin Bryce in 2014.
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Retrieved on May 11th, 2019 from http://www.peaceworks.org.au/eg-Poem003.php
We're All Australians Now
by A.B. Patterson. Published as an Open letter to the troops at The Dardenelles, 1915 by Patterson.
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Retrieved May 11th, 2019 from https://taroonahigh-tas.libapps.com/libguides/admin_c.php?g=835767&p=6605045

Sonnet

Last Dance
An example of a sonnet by an Australian.
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Retrieved March 13, 2018, from http://www.thehypertexts.com/Janet%20Kenny%20Poet%20Poetry%20Picture%20Bio.htm
How to write a sonnet poem in 7 steps
Some information on the structure of a sonnet.
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Hassler, M. (2014). How to write a sonnet poem in 7 steps. Retrieved May 11, 2018 from https://blog.udemy.com/how-to-write-a-sonnet-poem/

Haiku

Dalloway, E. (2012). Buson haiku [image]. Retrieved March, 10, 2016 from http://australianhaiku.blogspot.com.au/

Haiku Dreaming Australia
A collection of Australian themed Haiku.
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Haiku Dreaming Australia. (2011). The dreaming collection. Retrieved March 11, 2018 from http://users.mullum.com.au/jbird/dreaming/ozku.html.
Haiku Poem Creator
An interactive Haiku creator. Provides the structure of a Haiku poem, and helps you brainstorm.
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ReadWriteThink. (2010). Haiku poems [interactive]. Retrieved May 11, 2018 from http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/haiku/

Free Verse

The Surfer
An example of an Australian free verse style poem by Judith Wright.
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Wright, J. (1963). The surfer. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://allpoetry.com/The-Surfer
On Home Beaches
An example of a contemporary Australian free verse style poem by Les Murray.
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Murray, L. (1996). On home beaches. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://www.lesmurray.org/pm_ohb.htm
Another Country
An example of a free verse style poem by Australian poet John Tranter.
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Tranter, J. (1993). Another country. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/tranter-john/another-country-0240026
Tips for Writing Free Verse Poetry
A good series of tips and ideas for when you aren't quite sure where to start with a free verse poem.
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Nesbitt, K. (2013). Tips for writing free verse poetry. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/news/how-to-write-a-free-verse-poem/

My Country - Dorothea Mackellar

My Country
Dorothea Mackellar's famous poem - My Country
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Mackellar, D. (2011). My country. Retrieved May 13, 2018 from http://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/archive/mycountry.htm
Dorothea Mackellar official website

Rhyming poems

Heatwave by Michael Leunig

Leunig, M. (2018.). Heatwave. Retrieved May, 9, 2019 from https://www.leunig.com.au/works/recent-cartoons/822-heat-wave

All One Race
An example of an Australian rhyming poem by Indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal. The rhyming pattern is AABBCCDD.
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Noonuccal, O. (1992). All one race. From The Dawn is at Hand. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/noonuccal-oodgeroo/all-one-race-0719001
Andy's Gone With Cattle
One of Henry Lawson's more famous poems. In the rhyming pattern ABAB.
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Lawson, H. (1900?). Andy’s gone with cattle. From In the Days When the World Was Wide. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/lawson-henry/andy-s-gone-with-cattle-0002010
A Letter to the Front
A rhyming poem from famous Australian poet C.J. Dennis. In the pattern of AABBCCDD. An example of use of creative language and spelling to set a scene.
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Dennis, C. (1916). A letter to the front. From The Moods of Ginger Mick. Retrieved March, 16, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/dennis-c-j-clarence-james/a-letter-to-the-front-0097011
Rhyme Schemes
A guide to start you off writing rhyming poetry.
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William, V. (2015). Rhyme schemes. Retrieved March, 17, 2016 from http://www.creative-writing-now.com/rhyme-schemes.html
Have You Mastered All 7 of These Basic Rhyme Schemes?
There are many different rhyming patterns that can be used when writing poetry. This article explains many of them.
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Tozler, N. (2014). Have you mastered all 7 of these basic rhyme schemes? Retrieved March, 17, 2016 from http://nicholastozier.com/have-you-mastered-all-six-of-these-basic-rhyme-schemes/

Great Southern Land

Great Southern Land
Lyrics to the song 'Great Southern Land' by Icehouse
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Davies, I. (1982). Great Southern Land. Retrieved March 12, 2018 from http://www.metrolyrics.com/great-southern-land-lyrics-icehouse.html

Judith Wright: Train journey

Poems by Judith Wright

Ballads

From Little Things Big Things Grow
Paul Kelly's ballad about Vincent Lingiari.
(Australian)
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Kelly, P. (1992). From little things big things grow. LyricWikia. Retrieved March, 11, 2016 from http://lyrics.wikia.com/wiki/Paul_Kelly:From_Little_Things_Big_Things_Grow
Waltzing Matilda
A. B. Paterson's famous ballad.
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Paterson, A. (1890). Waltzing Matilda. Retrieved March, 11, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/paterson-a-b-banjo/waltzing-matilda-0026009
The Man from Snowy River
A. B. Paterson's famous poem.
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Paterson, A. (1890). The man from Snowy River. Retrieved March, 11, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/paterson-a-b-banjo/the-man-from-snowy-river-0001004
Banjo Patterson
Biographical information and links to all of his poems
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Retrieved 11th May 2019 from https://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/paterson-a-b-banjo
Henry Lawson
Biographical information and links to all of his poems.
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Retrieved 11th May 2019 from Biographical information and links to all of his poems

How M’Dougal Topped the Score
A comedic ballad about a country cricket match.
(Australian.)
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Spencer, T. (1924). How M’Dougal topped the score. Retrieved March, 11, 2016 from http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/spencer-thomas-a/how-m-dougal-topped-the-score-0018001
Requirements to Write a Ballad
How to write a ballad
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Renfro, K. (2016). Requirements to write a ballad. Retrieved March, 11, 2016 from http://classroom.synonym.com/requirements-write-ballad-3078.html

The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke: CJ Dennis

Contemporary remix of Clancy of the Overflow

Indigenous Poetry

The New True Anthem by Kevin Gilbert

From Anthems, 'ranthems', and otherwise loves: nationalism in Australian Poetry from http://theconversation.com/anthems-ranthems-and-otherwise-loves-nationalism-in-australian-poetry-90450

Aboriginal Poems

Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Short film on Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Australian culture and identity

Defying stoicism: Australian poetry t has been said that Australians are taciturn, and not inclined for sentimentality or emotional outbursts. Although it may sound counter intuitive, this may also be why Australia has such a rich poetic tradition. With stoicism prevailing in public, Australians have often turned inwards to reflect on their feelings and subsequently share their feelings through a safer medium.

The Australian environment (Australian Government website)

Australian culture (Australian Government website)

Credits

Portions of this page were created using ideas from:

Leonie Stephenson and Rosemary Kelleher at St Ignatius College, Geelong.

Mandy Murray at St Edward's College, Gosford.

English: Australian Poetry

Australian Poetry

Australian Poetry

War poetry

Sonnet

Haiku

Free Verse

My Country - Dorothea Mackellar

Rhyming poems

Great Southern Land

Judith Wright: Train journey

Suggested Reading - some of the books available in our library

Ballads

The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke: CJ Dennis

Contemporary remix of Clancy of the Overflow

Indigenous Poetry

Short film on Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Australian culture and identity

Credits