The poetry of Judith Wright

That every poem relates implicitly to a particular dramatic situation is a comment able to be accurately applied to the poetry of well-known Australian poet, Judith Wright. Whilst Wright's poetry covers many different themes relating to Australian society, it is clear that Wright, in many of her poems, makes clear reference to certain events. These are often, however, explored in different forms, be it a stage of life, an intense experience or a critical event. This is certainly true for two of Wright's well-known poems, 'The Dark Ones' and 'A document', each relating to two entirely different situations and issues, but nonetheless relating to an important factual event which has shaped the poet's opinion or a created event or situation which allows for the facilitation of expression of the issues to be discussed.

'The Dark Ones' relates clearly to a situation in the town which has obviously left a rather prominent imprint in Judith Wright's mind. The theme explored is one of a certain shock at the situation of there being such a division in society and the fact that the Aboriginal people are, in the poem, being treated as second-class citizens whom are a little like 'the pests' and certainly not like human beings. Wright's message, in the voice of the persona, is one of disgust that society thinks and behaves in this way, and points out the fact that change is required and that until it is made, life cannot go on.

The structure is rather incoherent, as refected by the different lines of thought expressed in each line, and creates a mood which is tense and rather awkward for both the Whites and Blacks, representing the fact that given the situation, they are unable to think properly and rationally. The persona makes clear the fact that the Anglo-Saxon population believes fully in their superiority and that they are being inconvenienced by having these 'savages' bombarding their town for the collection of their pension and shows the deep differences between the