Poem Analysis - Water Gardening In An Old Farm Dam

Introduction: Blending Nature and Human Intervention

Les Murray's "Water-gardening In An Old Farm Dam" is a reflective poem that explores the complex relationship between humanity and nature in an Australian landscape. The poem oscillates between descriptions of the dam's natural state and the speaker's interventions, revealing a tension between a desire to improve upon nature and an appreciation for its inherent wildness. The tone is largely contemplative, tinged with a sense of regret and perhaps a hint of irony as the speaker grapples with the implications of human impact on the environment. The mood shifts from observational to philosophical, culminating in a nuanced acceptance of both the beauty and the potential destructiveness of human influence.

The Theme of Human Intervention vs. Natural Wildness

One of the central themes is the tension between human intervention and the inherent wildness of nature. The speaker is actively "widening" the dam, planting vegetation, and introducing mosquito-eating fish, all acts of deliberate manipulation. The poem highlights this through vivid descriptions of the speaker's actions, such as "levering up water tussocks" and buying fish in a "plastic amnion." This contrasts sharply with the descriptions of the dam's natural inhabitants – "tadpoles that swarm" and "buzzing bubbles" – which emphasize the independent life of the ecosystem. The phrase "Wilderness' says we've lost belief / in human building: our dominance / now so complete that we hide from it" encapsulates the speaker's awareness of the potentially destructive consequences of human control, suggesting a yearning for a more balanced relationship with nature.

Longing for a Humanized Landscape

The poem also explores a longing for a more traditionally "humanized" landscape. The speaker expresses admiration for "green humanised water / in old brick pounds, water carried / unleaking for miles around contour, / or built out into, or overstepping / stonework in long frilled excess." This nostalgia for meticulously crafted water features suggests a desire for a visible and harmonious integration of human design and nature. The reference to the "hands' pride and abysmal pay" emphasizes the value and labor that went into these traditional landscapes, contrasting them with the perceived ease and detachment of modern approaches to nature. This also introduces a note of social commentary, contrasting the dignity of labor with the abstract "necks and billions" paid for "Nature."

Ambivalence and the Symbolism of Water and Reeds

A recurring symbol is water itself, representing both the untamed and the tamed. The contrast between the "cow-ceramic, softened at rain times" of the farm dam and the idealized "water carried / unleaking for miles around contour" highlights the speaker's complex relationship with the natural world. The reeds also function as a potent symbol. Initially, the speaker expresses a desire to destroy them: "I could fire floating petrol among them again, and savage but not beat them." This violent impulse suggests a frustration with the encroachment of the natural world and a desire to maintain control. However, the speaker then considers declaring them "beautiful," acknowledging the aesthetic value and inherent right to exist of even the most unruly elements of nature. This ambivalence reveals a deeper struggle to reconcile the desire for order with an appreciation for wildness.

Concluding Thoughts: Finding Beauty in Imperfect Harmony

In conclusion, "Water-gardening In An Old Farm Dam" is a nuanced exploration of the complex relationship between humanity and nature. The poem reveals a tension between the desire to improve upon nature and an appreciation for its inherent wildness, ultimately suggesting that true beauty lies in finding a harmonious balance between the two. The speaker's ambivalence towards the reeds and the contrasting images of the farm dam and the idealized "humanised water" highlight the ongoing struggle to reconcile human desires with the needs of the environment. The poem leaves the reader pondering the implications of human intervention and the potential for finding beauty in even the most imperfectly balanced landscapes.