Now Do You Get It? Inside Job On Poetry

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday April 3, 2007

By KATELIN McINERNEY

ENTHUSING a group of Year 11 and 12 students about poetry is not an easy task, but respected Australian poet Peter Skrzynecki had the senior classes at Lake Illawarra High School positively enthralled.

Skrzynecki accepted an invitation to speak with the HSC students studying his critically acclaimed anthology, Immigrant Chronicle.

Skrzynecki talked his audience through his works, breaking down the themes and imagery for the riveted group.

Students busily took notes of his discussion of the anxiety and isolation experienced by immigrants to Australia and his confusion about his cultural identity.

Skrzynecki, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2002 for his service to Australian multicultural literature, is the author of a number of acclaimed short stories and was a senior lecturer at the University of Western Sydney.

English teacher Karen O'Malley was pleased.

"The kids thought the whole experience was great," she said.

Year 12 student Nurcan Kaplin found the visit insightful.

"It is really informative first-hand," Nurcan said.

"There were a few things in the poems that we had overlooked or not really thought about, so it was great to get his insights."

Skrzynecki will release Old/New World, in August.

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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