2 Kenneth Slessor Poems

Kenneth Slessor was an Australian poet and war correspondent. His collections of poetry include Thief of the Moon, Cuckooz Contrey, and Funny Farmyard: Nursery Rhymes and Painting Book. Today, the Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry is given in his honor.

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Beach Burial

‘Beach Burial’ by Kenneth Slessor is a deeply emotional poem about the cost of war. It uses hard-to-forget images of bodies washing up on a beach to highlight this fact.

This is one of Kenneth Slessor's best poems. It explores dark subject matter in an incredibly unique way, so much so that readers are unlikely to forget its message anytime soon after finishing the stanzas. The poem demonstrates Slessor's skill with language and allusion. Through its imagery, symbolism, and reflections on sacrifice, 'Beach Burial' presents a contemplation of death.

Softly and humbly to the Gulf of Arabs

The convoys of dead sailors come;

At night they sway and wander in the waters far under,

But morning rolls them in the foam.

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Sleep

Kenneth Slessor’s ‘Sleep’ describes how an infant is born in the womb of a woman. This poem describes the journey of life from inanition to entity.

The poem captures Kenneth Slessor’s deep interest in birth and life, focusing on the emotional journey between a mother and her unborn child. His work often reflects a careful look at these intimate connections with honest, straightforward language. Though ‘Sleep’ is widely appreciated for its portrayal of motherhood, Slessor’s poem ‘Five Bells’ is generally considered his most impactful and enduring work, showing his range and skill as an Australian poet.

Do you give yourself to me utterly,
Body and no-body, flesh and no-flesh
Not as a fugitive, blindly or bitterly,
But as a child might, with no other wish?

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