As a class, we will read the poem We Are Going by Oodgeroo Noonuccal on page 10 of your booklet. As we read think about S.M.I.L.E.S. and what the poem helps us to understand about Aboriginal people.

Activity 1:
1. In a group of 2 - 3 people, read the poem ‘We are Going’ by Oodgeroo Noonnuccal on page 10 of your booklet (you can also read the poem below).

2. Below is a list of techniques that are in the poem. Work together to identify the techniques. Some techniques appear more than once.

3. On a separate sheet of paper write the technique name and the example/s you find in the poem. The group that correctly identifies the most techniques will get a prize!

Good Luck!

Enjambment

Alliteration

collective noun

Simile

Symbol

Allusion

inclusive language

Repetition

Litany

Imagery

Personification

Metaphor

Personification

We Are Going

They came in to the little town

A semi-naked band subdued and silent

All that remained of their tribe.

They came here to the place of their old bora ground

Where now the many white men hurry about like ants.

Notice of the estate agent reads: 'Rubbish May Be Tipped Here'.

Now it half covers the traces of the old bora ring.

'We are as strangers here now, but the white tribe are the strangers.

We belong here, we are of the old ways.

We are the corroboree and the bora ground,

We are the old ceremonies, the laws of the elders.

We are the wonder tales of Dream Time, the tribal legends told.

We are the past, the hunts and the laughing games, the wandering camp fires.

We are the lightening bolt over Gaphembah Hill Quick and terrible,

And the Thunderer after him, that loud fellow.

We are the quiet daybreak paling the dark lagoon.

We are the shadow-ghosts creeping back as the camp fires burn low.

We are nature and the past, all the old ways Gone now and scattered.

The scrubs are gone, the hunting and the laughter.

The eagle is gone, the emu and the kangaroo are gone from this place.

The bora ring is gone.

The corroboree is gone.

And we are going.'

Activity:

1. After reading the poem we will discuss the questions on page 11 of your Semester 1 workbook.

2. After discussion, complete the questions on page 11.