EVERY lesson has a reflection in the last 5 minutes. WHAT - SO WHAT - NOW WHAT?

The Past

Summary

Analysis

Techniques

The Past

Oodgeroo Noonuccal

First published in The Dawn is at Hand, 1964

Let no one say the past is dead.

The past is all about us and within.

Haunted by tribal memories, I know

This little now, this accidental present

Is not the all of me, whose long making

Is so much of the past.

Tonight here in suburbia as I sit

In easy chair before electric heater,

Warmed by the red glow, I fall into dream:

I am away

At the camp fire in the bush, among

My own people, sitting on the ground,

No walls about me,

The stars over me,

The tall surrounding trees that stir in the wind

Making their own music,

Soft cries of the night coming to us, there

Where we are one with all old Nature's lives

Known and unknown,

In scenes where we belong but have now forsaken.

Deep chair and electric radiator

Are but since yesterday,

But a thousand thousand camp fires in the forest

Are in my blood.

Let none tell me the past is wholly gone.

Now is so small a part of time, so small a part

Of all the race years that have moulded me.

Summary

Oodgeroo Noonuccal reflects on the persistence of the past in the face of modernity. Sitting in her suburban home, she dreams of being back at the campfires of her ancestors. Despite the comforts of modern life, she feels a deep connection to her Aboriginal heritage, which she believes is an integral part of her identity. The poem underscores the idea that the past is never truly gone; it remains within us, shaping who we are.

Analysis

Oodgeroo Noonuccal, an Aboriginal Australian poet, explores themes of identity, heritage, and the enduring presence of the past. The poem juxtaposes the modern suburban lifestyle with the traditional Aboriginal way of life, highlighting the tension between the two. The speaker's modern comforts are depicted as shallow compared to the profound connection she feels with her ancestral past.

The repetition of "Let no one say the past is dead" serves as a powerful assertion that one's heritage cannot be erased by the passage of time or the adoption of new lifestyles. The imagery of the campfire, the stars, and the natural world evokes a sense of belonging and unity with nature, contrasting sharply with the isolation and artificiality of suburban life.

Noonuccal's use of contrast and vivid imagery not only evokes a sense of nostalgia but also critiques the disconnection from nature and community that can accompany modern living. The poem ultimately calls for a recognition and respect for the past, urging readers to acknowledge the deep roots that shape their identities.

Techniques

Form: Free Verse

There is no set rhythm or rhyme. Even though there is no rhyming scheme, the poem has a musical quality that makes it more memorable.

The poem's musicality mirrors the use of sacred songlines (traditional song cycles) which are used by Indigenous Australians to preserve memory and knowledge, just as the speaker of the poem uses the lyricism of her poetry to preserve the memories of her culture.

Structure: Two short stanzas, first being a prologue of sorts. The second explores theme by contrasting two settings

Voice: First person monological voice "I" breaks down the division between the personal and political spheres of her identity. This allows the speaker to share insights into the effects of postcolonialism with a voice of authenticity.

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