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Adapting an Australian Poem

Going to School

Did you see them pass by today, Billy, Kate and Robin,

All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin?

Jigging, jogging off to school, down the dusty track –

What must Dobbin think of it – three upon his back?

Robin at the bridle – rein, in the middle Kate,

Billy holding on behind, his legs out straight.

Now they’re coming back from school, jig, jog, jig,

See them at the corner where the gums grow big;

Dobbin flicking off the flies and blinking at the sun –

Having three upon his back he thinks is splendid fun:

Robin at the bridle – rein, in the middle Kate,

Little Billy up behind, his legs out straight.

by C J Denis

Going to School

Did you see them pass by today, Tharsan, James and Fred,

All strapped in the GTS which is the colour red?

Revving, roaring off to school down the busy street –

What must the driver think of this, three kids on the back seat?

The chauffer at the steering wheel, next to him is James,

Tharsan, sitting just behind, waiting to change lanes.

Now they’re coming back from school, roar, rev, roar,

See them at the corner where the tall houses soar;

The GTS is burning bright and shining in the sun –

Having three in the back seat makes the driver want to run:

The chauffer at the steering wheel, next to him is James

Big Tharsan just behind, waiting to change lanes.

by Tharsan Jeyachandran

Questions:

1. What changes have you made?

I modernised it by using a car instead of a horse.

I also described busy streets instead of a dusty track.

I also talked about tall houses instead of big gum trees

1. Why did you make these changes? What does it tell us about our new Australia?

I made these changes to make the poem more interesting.

To make it reflect on my life.

It tells us that there have been a lot of changes in our new Australia

1. What poetic techniques have you used?

I have used Rhyme, Rhythm, Descriptive words (Adjectives), Action words (verbs), Alliteration, Onomatopoeia

1. How is this technique effective in revealing the changes?

The techniques add meaning to the poem. The rhyme, alliteration and onomatopoeia because these things sound like a car for example-‘rev, roar, rev’.