Themes and message

The main theme of the poem “This Land” by Ian Mudie is the love of land which is reflected through a deep communion with nature and the relationship between literary creation (poetry) and nature. The poet’s message with the poem is that the Australia…

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Communion with nature

The poem is written in praise of Australian land and its impact on the lyrical speaker. But the praise is unusual because the speaker believes that the land is impressive not because it is an idyllic, welcoming landscape but because of the combination between harshness represented by the “brown hills” (l. 2), “dead grass” (l. 2), “heat” (l. 10), “desert” (l. 25), “dust” (l. 20) and beauty represented by the song of birds, “blue sea” (l. 27), or “spring flowers” (l. 27).

The poem suggests that communion with nature can only be achieved if people acknowledge nature’s power and strength, if rain beats “h…

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Poetry and nature

The poem also explores the theme of poetry and nature as the ‘words’ mentioned in the poem are a symbol of poetic creation. In the poem, nature inspires lyrical creativity which is not only symbolised by the words but also by the references to music: “Give me a harsh land to wring music from” (l. 1).

Poetry (represented by words) and nature (represented by the Australian land) are inextricably intertwined. Nature reflects …