10_Mary_Street

How does the poem 10 Mary Street explore the connections between place and belonging' The poem, 10 Mary Street explores connections between place and belonging by drawing connections between 10 Mary Street and the aspects of belonging that are beginning to accumulate as the family grow in familiarity with the place. These include such aspects as routine, comfort, longevity and passion that are presented throughout the poem and add to a heightened sense of belonging. The poem creates a sense of familiarity with the house in relation to routine and congruity. The use of simile in "shut the house/Like a well oiled lock" displays the habitual activities and predictability of the family. It conveys a relationship between the frequent routines of their house and their sense of stability and security. The routines associated with 10 Mary Street are have become second nature to the family and they belong to these conventions, hence 10 Mary Street. There is a connection between the place in which the family have developed comfortable routine and their sense of belonging. The permanence of the family's residence, the seemingly unchanging environment presented in the first verse connotes a sense of stability and longevity that alludes to belonging. The antithesis of the "still too narrow bridge" contrasts the inadequacy of the bridge being narrow with the consistency of its existence. It has not yet been improved or renovated but it remains there. The contrast conveys a stability of the passable structure and as a result a sense the family are safe and secure. The consistency of the place gives a feeling inclusion. The relationship between the parents and their garden is a rather loving one, it conveys a harmony and a passion. The utilisation of the simile, "Tended roses and camellias/Like adopted children", exposes an immense care for the garden. The parents have developed an affection for the garden, which connotes a sense of attachment to the place. Thus, the parents are coming to belong to 10 Mary Street through their enthusiasm of the garden. Belonging is shown to be relative to the infatuation they have found for the place. Skrzynecki begins to develop a real companionship, almost a loyalty to the 10 Mary Street as it slowly becomes part of his history, a place where he enjoyed so much of his childhood that he was beginning to care for it and feel he belonged to it. The personification of the house, "The house stands/In its china-blue coat", denotes human like qualities and thus allows the family to feel for it in the way they would a person. The house is becoming more of a home, the time in which the family have spent in the place has created ties with it. "With paint guaranteed/For another ten year", displays how the family are beginning to care for the house, how they wish to stay in this place for another"10 years". Evidently one can notice a connection between the place and a sense of belonging due to the way in the family are now beginning to feel about 10 Mary Street. When Skrzynecki recites his memories over the 19 years at 10 Mary Street one can see how their cultural heritage has been allowed to be revived within the place. They have been able to keep to pre war traditions and as such make the transition to Australia easier, since they can find a sense of belonging through their cultural identity which may help them open to the new country. The use of the cultural reference, "Kielbasa" highlights this preservation of culture and suggests a connection with the place in which they have been able live as they did in their previous home. Skrzynecki appeals to our senses through, "salt herrings/And rye bread" and "smoked like/A dozen puffing billies". These tastes and smells accentuate the culture on display and emphasise a special connection with the house, in that the family kept to these traditions of their previous home in their new house. The place is related to belonging through the familiar traditions they still attain to at 10 Mary Street. 10 Mary Street explores connection between place and belonging by describing the routines, the consistency, the passion, the companionship and the memories Skryznecki's family had with 10 Mary Street and how through the place itself, they were aspects of belonging in this new alien country.