Analysis of the Poem

Analysis of the poem "Son of Mine"

The poem "Son of mine" is an address by an Aboriginal women to her son about race relations between aborigines and white Australians. She could have told him about the terrible acts that have been committed by the whites towards aborigines. However, she tells him of the positive future for the two countries when "lives of black and white entwine, and men in brotherhood combine." In stanza one, the aboriginal mother notes that her son has "troubled eyes" and he is "puzzled and hurt by colour line." He has been hurt by racist acts against him and he is searching for answers. In stanza two, the aboriginal mother could tell her son all the terrible acts that were committed by the whites against the black people. But in stead, she focus on the positive aspects to improve relations between aboriginal and the white Australians.

The mood of this poem is very painful as a aboriginal mother watching her young son's puzzling of the difference between the black and white society and has been hurt by the colour line. She is so helpless, however she has to sustain all the pain and give her young son a hope of one day the black and white will become one big family! As well, she told her son the positive aspects between the aboriginal people and the white Australians.

The poetess is conveying the message of improved race relations between the aboriginal people and Europeans. Instead of discussing the terrible things that have happened in the past, she focuses on the possible positive outlook for the future between the two races.

The poem consist of three stanzas of four lines each. The lines are approximately of equal length. The poem has a regular rhyming scheme with rhyming couplets. The poem has a regular rhyming scheme with most lines rhyming with "mine" with the exception of "blind" and "mankind".

The poetess has used a number of poetic devices to convey her message. The use of simile "skin as soft as velvet" to compare the...