Bruce Dawe is a prominent Australian poet born in 1930, in Geelong. His experiences as a laborer, postman, gardener, and in particular his 9 years as a sergeant in the Royal Australian Air Force, have enabled him to recollect and articulate his memories into a renowned compendium, Sometimes Gladness, which has been described as “perhaps the most successful book of verse by a contemporary Australian poet”.
His anthology contains a variety of poems. The three I will be discussing include The Day that They Shot Santa Claus, The Wholly Innocent, and Homo Suburbiensis, all of which focus on life (or the lack of it) and its ups and downs.
The Day That They Shot Santa Claus tells a story through the eyes of a bystander; obviously in central Melbourne (the reference to Bourke St). It elaborates not the death of Santa Claus, but rather the consequences of the event. It tells of extreme sadness after the death of the highly prominent symbol of innocence, happiness and festive spirit, key themes of this verse. The speaker is portrayed very sadly, (yet in a way bitterly), supported by lines such as “Chewing Gum lost its flavor on the instant” and “Reindeer ran amok on Sydney Rd”. The poem is highly consistent throughout, as the narrator and the poet are united in the way they feel. There is a presence of imagery, which is conveyed through visualization of the events. Although the poem is relatively short; illustrating that death is tragic yet simple, it can be interpreted in a whole different way. Perhaps the poem is a criticism of the little value we place on death, and the only reactions we have towards the death of Santa are minute compared to what they should be. Interpretations, however, depend on reader reactions.
