Peter Skrzynecki Poems Analysis
Belonging + Alienation
By Hameeda
“Skrzynecki’s poetry explores the question of alienation just as much as it does the issue of belonging”
Alienation is a universal human emotion which can only be addressed from an individual perspective and thus Peter Skrzynecki’s collection of highly personal poetry serves as a much more effective medium for exploring isolation that belonging. His anthology Immigrant Chronicles collates his exploration of belonging on cultural, familial and ideological levels as formed by his personal experiences; yet the central focus of these poems lies in the aspect of alienation and isolation more than it does belonging. When a sense of community is built up through his expertly virtuosic command of high powered …show more content…
The focus on these ideas is most evidently reflected in the way his poem is framed by temporal references such as “for nineteen years” and “back at 5p.m.” These phrases create a sense of security which is further developed by the extended listing in “we departed each morning, shut the house… hid the key.” Moreover, this specific focus on the inane details of life such as hiding the key “under a rusty bucket” and walking “over that still too-narrow bridge” establishes a colloquial tone which in turn, represents the sense of familiarity associated with everyday life. Thus a sense of belonging is founded in this regularity. Moreover, this routine is portrayed in highly favourable light as is seen in the leisurely and bucolic interrelationship between work and play; “my parents watered plants – grew potatoes… tended roses and camellias.” This Arcadian imagery becomes even more significant as an empowering sense of reciprocity is generated by the simile of the “roses and camellias like adopted children.” In addition to this, the lines “washing clothes and laying sewerage pipes” draw upon familial conventions of the ‘handyman’ father and domestic mother to render a scene of unity. Also, the house becomes the irrevocable scene of his childhood where he would “ravage the backyard garden like a hungry bird.” However, these nostalgic reflections take on a somewhat lamenting tone as the house’s transience is fully realized;” the whole block has been gazetted for industry” and it is with this attitude in mind that his dwindling Polish religion is treated in the following paragraph. Thus the first person plural pronoun “we lived together” illustrates a collective cultural unity which “kept pre-war Europe alive.” It is by adhering to this unique culture
By Hameeda
“Skrzynecki’s poetry explores the question of alienation just as much as it does the issue of belonging”
Alienation is a universal human emotion which can only be addressed from an individual perspective and thus Peter Skrzynecki’s collection of highly personal poetry serves as a much more effective medium for exploring isolation that belonging. His anthology Immigrant Chronicles collates his exploration of belonging on cultural, familial and ideological levels as formed by his personal experiences; yet the central focus of these poems lies in the aspect of alienation and isolation more than it does belonging. When a sense of community is built up through his expertly virtuosic command of high powered …show more content…
The focus on these ideas is most evidently reflected in the way his poem is framed by temporal references such as “for nineteen years” and “back at 5p.m.” These phrases create a sense of security which is further developed by the extended listing in “we departed each morning, shut the house… hid the key.” Moreover, this specific focus on the inane details of life such as hiding the key “under a rusty bucket” and walking “over that still too-narrow bridge” establishes a colloquial tone which in turn, represents the sense of familiarity associated with everyday life. Thus a sense of belonging is founded in this regularity. Moreover, this routine is portrayed in highly favourable light as is seen in the leisurely and bucolic interrelationship between work and play; “my parents watered plants – grew potatoes… tended roses and camellias.” This Arcadian imagery becomes even more significant as an empowering sense of reciprocity is generated by the simile of the “roses and camellias like adopted children.” In addition to this, the lines “washing clothes and laying sewerage pipes” draw upon familial conventions of the ‘handyman’ father and domestic mother to render a scene of unity. Also, the house becomes the irrevocable scene of his childhood where he would “ravage the backyard garden like a hungry bird.” However, these nostalgic reflections take on a somewhat lamenting tone as the house’s transience is fully realized;” the whole block has been gazetted for industry” and it is with this attitude in mind that his dwindling Polish religion is treated in the following paragraph. Thus the first person plural pronoun “we lived together” illustrates a collective cultural unity which “kept pre-war Europe alive.” It is by adhering to this unique culture