Bullocky
By Judith Wright
Beside his heavy shouldered team thirsty with drought and chilled with rain,
he weathered all the striding years
till they ran widdershins in his brain:
Till the long solitary tracks
etched deeper with each lurching load
were populous before his eyes,
and fiends and angels used his road.
All the long straining journey grew
a mad apocalyptic dream,
and he was an old Moses, and the slaves, with their suffering and stubborn team.
Then in his evening camp beneath
the half light pillars of the trees
he filled the steepled cone of night
with shouted prayers and prophecies.
While past the campfire’s crimson ring
the star struck darkness cupped him round.
and centuries of cattle bells rang
with their sweet uneasy sound.
Grass is across the wagon tracks,
and plough strikes bone beneath the grass,
and vineyards cover all the slopes
where the dead teams were used to pass.
O vine, grow close upon that bone
and hold it with your rooted hand.
The prophet Moses feeds the grape,
and fruitful is the Promised Land.
Summary of Bullocky
- Popularity of “Bullocky”: The poem “Bullocky,” penned by Australian poet Judith Wright, first appeared in 1946 in The Moving Image. It quickly achieved recognition and has remained a staple in Australian literature, frequently appearing in textbooks and anthologies. Its enduring appeal lies in its unique comparison of a humble bullocky—a cattle driver—with the biblical figure of Moses, suggesting a profound dignity and sacredness in all labor.
- “Bullocky” as a Representative of the Sacredness of Farming and Cattle Rearing: Wright’s poem depicts the bullocky as a solitary figure, almost mythic in his endurance. He is weathered by the elements and years of relentless work, his mind now filled with visions born from the long, lonely roads he has travelled. The poet highlights that he sees beyond the physical journey; the road is “populous” with both “fiends and angels.” This suggests a spiritual dimension to his work, a confrontation with life’s complexities. The comparison to Moses is central—the bullocky and his team are cast as the Israelites, enduring hardship in pursuit of sustenance and a future. The final lines, invoking the vine growing upon the “bone” (representing the past labor and sacrifice), symbolize the fruitful outcome of his work—a “Promised Land” nourished by his dedication.
- Major Themes in “Bullocky”: The poem’s central themes revolve around hard work, the inherent dignity of labor, and the connection between humanity and the land. Indigenousness is present not only as the setting but also in the poem’s deep respect for the land and the people who work it. The poem portrays the bullocky as a figure deeply intertwined with the Australian landscape, a silent, enduring presence shaping the land and its future. The sacredness of his profession isn’t based on religious practice but on the vital role he plays in sustaining life.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Bullocky
Judith Wright masterfully employs a range of literary and poetic devices to elevate “Bullocky” beyond a simple depiction of rural life. These devices work together to create a rich, symbolic, and emotionally resonant poem.
- Allusion: The most prominent allusion is to the biblical story of Moses and the Exodus. Wright deliberately equates the bullocky with Moses and his team of oxen with the Israelites. This is not a direct comparison of religious piety but rather a suggestion that all labor, particularly that which provides sustenance, carries a similar weight and dignity. The “Promised Land” in the final stanza directly echoes the biblical narrative, emphasizing the reward for enduring hardship.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain words. For example, the repetition of the short “o” sound in “O vine, grow close upon that bone” draws attention to the connection between the vine and the legacy of the bullocky’s work. Similarly, the repetition of the “i” sound in “While past the campfire’s crimson ring” contributes to the poem’s lyrical quality.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words adds emphasis and texture. The line “bone beneath” demonstrates alliteration with the “b” sound, creating a subtle connection between the physical labor and the lasting impact of the bullocky’s work.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words creates a subtle sense of harmony and reinforces thematic connections. The line “thirsty with drought and chilled with rain” uses the “t” and “r” sounds repeatedly, subtly echoing the hardship endured by the bullocky and his team.
- Enjambment: Wright frequently uses enjambment—the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next—to create a sense of flow and momentum. This technique mirrors the continuous journey of the bullocky and his team. For example:
-
While past the campfire’s crimson ring
the star struck darkness cupped him round.
and centuries of cattle bells rang
with their sweet uneasy sound.
The thought doesn’t pause at the end of each line, mimicking the relentless motion of the journey.
- Imagery: The poem is rich in evocative imagery that appeals to the senses. “The half light pillars of the trees” creates a visual image of the evening camp, while “centuries of cattle bells” evoke an auditory sense of the long history of cattle driving in the Australian landscape. These images immerse the reader in the poem’s setting and atmosphere.
- Metaphor: While not a sustained metaphor, the poem subtly presents the bullocky’s work as a metaphor for the struggle and perseverance inherent in human life. The long journey, the hardship endured, and the eventual fruition symbolize the broader human experience.
- Personification: The poem uses personification to imbue inanimate objects with human qualities. “All the long straining journey grew a mad apocalyptic dream” suggests that the journey itself has a life and a consciousness, mirroring the bullocky’s own increasingly dreamlike state.
- Symbolism: Several elements in the poem carry symbolic weight. The “bone” represents the past labor, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of the bullocky. The “vine” symbolizes the flourishing life and abundance that result from that labor. The “grass” covering the wagon tracks symbolizes the passage of time and the reclamation of the land by nature.
Poetic Structure and Form
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem generally follows an ABCB rhyme scheme, creating a sense of order and musicality without being overly rigid. The irregular rhyme scheme mimics the natural rhythms of life and the unpredictable nature of the journey.
- Quatrain: The poem is primarily composed of quatrains—four-line stanzas—a traditional poetic form that provides a sense of balance and structure.
- Stanza: The poem consists of seven stanzas, each contributing to the unfolding narrative and thematic development. The stanzas function as discrete units while simultaneously working together to create a cohesive whole.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Bullocky” are particularly resonant and can be used to illuminate the poem’s central themes and poetic techniques:
While past the campfire’s crimson ring
the star struck darkness cupped him round.
and centuries of cattle bells rang
with their sweet uneasy sound.
This quote effectively captures the poem’s atmospheric quality and evokes the long history of cattle driving in the Australian landscape. It also demonstrates the poem’s use of imagery and sound devices to create a vivid and memorable scene.