Summary
The poem “Waiting” was written by Judith Wright and was added to her first book of poetry published in 1946. The author, famous Australian poet, and environmentalist dedicated The Moving Images to the themes of love of the environment, the dispossession of the Aborigines, and the possibility of changing the world (Belshaw, 2018). Although the past events’ consequences find their manifestation in the future, people can redefine and revise their past.
Overview of the Moving Image
In general, Wright belongs to philosophical poets whose symbolistic language brings insights into man’s place in nature. Through her poems, she gradually presents the Australian contour to the readers, adding her emotional response. Her works concentrate on relationships between the environment and humans. For instance, in “Bullocky,” Wright celebrates the courage of European pioneers whose sufferings contributed to land preparedness for further generations. The author also turns to the Aborigines as an essential part of the Australian identity that also helped to fertilize the land. For that reason, Wright reflects negatively on the way European settlers treated the Aborigines, stepping on their barren soil and fertile land.
Throughout her first book, the environmentalist encourages her fellow citizens to accept the guilt for the sufferings the former inhabitants of Australia faced instead of ignoring this issue. She recreates the setting in “Bora Ring” and recalls how white settlers took over the land from the Aborigines. The author does not blame Australians but rather makes them realize their mistakes and change their perceptions. Wright wants her people to respect the natives, recognize the atrocities they suffered, and learn from them more intimate ways to treat and connect with the environment (Belshaw, 2018). She also strives to reconcile the ruggedness and the beauty of the Australian landscape by revaluating her country’s history. In other words, under Wright, the feeling of guilt should be alleviated to assure a bright and peaceful future.
Meaning of the Poem
Since the poem belongs to The Moving Images, its symbolism is consistent with the one seen in the preceding poems. Its first stanza describes the beautiful and peaceful scenery of the settlement situated on the hills which vague serenity can be broken only by a flock of parrots. Here Wright celebrates the beautiful Australian environment that people can protect. It seems like the author believes in the mutually beneficial coexistence of humanity and nature.
The next stanza explores again the time theme of “circling days.” The Neoplatonic conception of time circularity considers time as a circular system instead of a straight line stretching from the past to the future. It is based on the assumption that the same past events repeat in the future in line with a specific cyclical pattern. For that reason, the future is defined not only by current events but also by historical heritage. In this stanza, Wright also delivers cautions against dangers Australians may face in the future. In order to do that, the author turns to the symbolism of a poisonous spider, incurable disease, and serpent king Basilisk. For instance, she compares time with a spider that gradually inserts the sting. This part alludes to the past that may be ignored or neglected by people in routine but still shapes the nation’s present and future.
Next, the author continues to elaborate on time and its role in people’s life. She believes that time itself does not shape the way humanity lives. Events and how they are perceived are what matter the most. Although previous events influence the future, human beings are able to shape their present by redefining the past. Wright hopes that time will be “the calm surgeon” that deals with curable cancer. However, this stanza ends with the statement that time does not mitigate the pain due to its cyclical nature, and only Australians can take “knives to heal or destroy” in their hands (Wright, 2016, p. 26). The poem ends with the idea that time is “the crystal hour of waiting,” which makes us understand ourselves and reflect on our past and present.
It is a chance for people to explore the world, and their roots and shapes their future, addressing previous mistakes instead of leaving them alone. The last stanza ends with the pure Neoplatonic aspiration: “make us whole in man and time, who build eternity” (Wright, 2016, p. 26). Considering previous book themes, the author could mean the Aborigines under the words “these lives” (Wright, 2016, p. 26). It is not wise to ignore the feeling of guilt in order to have a peaceful and bright future. Only acceptance of guilt and further regret may avoid the reoccurrence of atrocities in the “circling days.”
To conclude, the poem “Waiting” belongs to the first book of poetry written by Judith Wright. The Moving Images covers themes of love of the green world and addresses the unrighteous treatment of former inhabitants of Australia by the first white settlers. The poem itself discusses the role of time seen by the author as a spiral turning and returning. This Neoplatonic circularity of time implies the possibility to restore or fix something lost in the past. The author believes in the power of human creative will that may lead to peaceful eternity.
References
Belshaw, J. (2018). History matters: Wright’s Moving Images. The Armidale Express. Web.
Wright, J. (2016). Collected Poems. Harper Collins Publishers.