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Oombulgarri Ali Eckerman Leaves Summary

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Language is essential to influence perceptions of individual and collective identity, shaping our individual assumptions about ourselves and other cultural groups. The poems “Oombulgarri”, “Unearth” and “Leaves” from the anthology “Inside My Mother” (2015) by Ali Cobby Eckermann, encourage responders to explore her connection with the natural world and her indigenous culture, to disrupt or affirm perspectives of themselves and those around them. Ultimately, through the use of language devices, her poems reveal the impact of dispossession of country, perceptions of culture and memory and changing relationships around us which influence our outlook on life. Eckermann’s use of poetic form in “Oombulgarri” invites responders to reflect upon Indigenous …show more content…

In her poem “Leaves'', Eckermann explores the role her ancestors play in influencing her perception of her culture. Her combined use of a metaphor and a rhetorical question, illustrating the strong presence of her father in her life, “that lone tree on the ridge/ is that my father?”, alludes to the mystery of her father, expressing the figment of her imagination which developed due to her recurring desire to know her father, implying that he helped shape her sense of identity. Additionally, Eckerman’s inclination for deepening her identity, shown through the use of personification, “now only a few leaves, remain on ageing limbs'', demonstrates her inability to relay the knowledge of her father, alluding towards the significance of storytelling within Aboriginal culture, facilitating intergenerational connections to maintain their civilisation, which have greatly diminished due to their battles with trauma. Furthermore, the paradoxical bond between Eckermann and her father, expressed through her use of visual imagery, “he did not know me/ yet gave me leaves'', underscores how human stories are intertwined and expressed through the natural world, depicting her father’s resonation in Eckermann’s life through “leaves'', symbolising the teachings and stories that reside within her spirit, ultimately showing that sense of connection that affected her perspective. Eckermann’s examination of family and kinship, inspires individuals to revisit the connections they have with others to help create more informed

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