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A-Z POETRY

Municipal Gum by Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Amidst metaphors of city life, the gum tree stands as another displaced living being in the city. She likens the treatment of the tree to that of the Aboriginal people.

Poem: "Municipal Gum" by Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Gumtree in the city street,
Hard bitumen around your feet,
Rather you should be
In the cool world of leafy forest halls
And wild bird calls
Here you seems to me
Like that poor cart-horse
Castrated, broken, a thing wronged,
Strapped and buckled, its hell prolonged,
Whose hung head and listless mien express

Its hopelessness.
Municipal gum, it is dolorous
To see you thus
Set in your black grass of bitumen-
O fellow citizen,
What have they done to us?

Related Links

Poet's Biography Analysis Facts for Kids

Video

Municipal Gum

SOURCE: Paul Eastway (2014), posted on YouTube, [12:01 mins] URL: https://youtu.be/GQVY-cE3w0Q

'Municipal Gum' by Oodgeroo Noonuccal - Analysis

This video contains a close Analysis of Oodgeroo Noonuccal 's, 'Municipal Gum', with a discussion of the poem's historical context, major themes, and Noonuccal 's use of poetic techniques.

SOURCE: Litpoetry (202, October 16), YouTube, https://youtu.be/iBq896u0794