I’m rather thrilled to be asked to judge the Primary category of the 2019 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. As a teacher, I used these awards to give students a real audience. I know what a big deal these awards are in the classroom! To be on the other side (and expecting to read thousands of students poems) is exciting – and a wee-bit daunting.
But mostly, it’s a huge honour – because of course, Dorothea Mackellar’s ‘My Country‘ has been burnt into my mind since first learning those impassioned words. (My overseas readers, if you haven’t read it, then you must, here.) ‘Waltzing Matilda’ is all well and good – but if we were ever to talk about a new, Australian anthem? Look no further than ‘My Country’!
It inspired my Australia Day golden shovel (above left) during #MoPoetry2019 – using the strike line from the final stanza of ‘My Country’’, Dorothea Mackellar’s iconic poem, above right.
If you’re a classroom teacher and want a poetry form to kickstart kids writing, the golden shovel is a great form to try!
HOW TO:
- Find a strike line (any length) from an existing poem and attribute it.
- Put each word from the strike line at the end of individual lines in your poem… If your strike line has 4 words, your poem has four lines. (The strike line in my poem is written are in bold. )
- Now fill in the gaps to make your poem. Lines can be any length.
See also Seeds of Hope for another example of a golden shovel.
Intrigued? You might enjoy learning more about Dorothea, with this YouTube, by Libby Hathorn.
Today’s Poetry Friday is hosted by Irene Latham, creator of the Progressive Poem I took part in earlier in the month. (You can catch up with the poem as it builds at the links below.) Thanks, Irene, for hosting today (during your month of happy poems!) and for sharing the Progressive Poem with the world. 🙂
The Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem – April 2019
Kathryn Apel 
Dorothea Mackellar’s ‘My Country‘ is truly wonderful, and your golden shovel pairs well with it. There are places I’ve been that your words and your photos evoke memory of — “sun sears,” “withered to scorn,” but especially “poured your lifeblood into this land.”
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Dorothea’s poem is so stirring, Alice. Such a talent! And thank-you for your specific thoughts on my poem. How lovely that it evokes memories for you, too, on the other side of the world.
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I do like your Golden Shovel poem, Kat for it is filled with passion, rightly so. Have fun playing with poetry.
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Thank-you, Carol! Methinks it will be busy – but fun!
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Congratulations on being named a judge, Kat! That’s awesome, but it is a lot of work! Thanks for introducing Dorothea Mackellar’s poem to us. I laughed when you mentioned Waltzing Matilda, yes, that’s about it. But one favorite book I’ve read about your country is Bruce Chatwin’s Songlines. Is it one that’s admired there? And I love the golden shovel crafted from Dorothea’s poem. No matter where, our countries do hold our lifeblood. Thanks!
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I’m going to have to continually remind myself they can’t all be winners because for sure I will be overthinking things, Linda! But what a privilege and joy to read the work of so many budding poets. I’m really looking forward to it! I haven’t heard of Bruce Chatwin, or his work. I’ll have to do some research into that one. Thanks for the heads-up. 🙂
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An opal hearted country….what could be more beautiful and descriptive than that? I love it! Someday….someday, I’ll visit. For now, I live from blog post to netflix show to blog post. Many congrats on being called on to judge. What an honor…but also, what a difficult task. Do you need to develop your own criteria? Or, are there some ready for you? I hope we get to see who wins! Great post today…now get to work. You’ve got reading to do!
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The poetry form is open – and there’s no set criteria. I’m planning to read and mark poems that appeal/standout for any reason. Then I’ll come back and weigh them all up considering that little magic something, vocabulary, rhythm and rhyme (if applicable), uniqueness, form, sophistication … Basically, everything.😂 (I know who to call if I need a whip-cracker! #gettowork #yesboss) And yes, please do come and visit!
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What a beautiful golden shovel. Congratulations on the poetry judging gig! Those children are so lucky to be able to receive your feedback.
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Thank-you, Kimberly.😊 I adore golden shovels. I don’t think I’ve ever read a bad one. Somehow they just draw beautiful words out.
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Kat, you will be a wonderful judge! And thank you for the introduction to Dorothea as well as the Golden Shovel — both poem and instructions for poem are excellent! Thank you! xo
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Thank-you, Irene. I’m really looking forward to the judging role – and the opportunity to travel down to Dorothea Mackellar country (hoping to see the family homestead!) for the official presentation. So much joy!
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Congratulations on the opportunity to judge. How cool that you’ve now been on both sides as a teacher and judge. Your Golden Shovel is beautiful. One day I would love to visit your country! For now, I will have to enjoy the glimpses I get from your photos and poems.
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If you do one day get to visit, Kay, I would love to show you my backyard. 🙂
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Congrats on being a judge for this dear-to-you Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards! How circular life can be… I like your earthy golden shovel from Dorothea’s “My Country.” Thanks for sharing the video, I like her “Capture” poem.
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I tried to find it online, Michelle, to read more of it, but I don’t think Google knows ‘Captive’ – or “My soul is sick of the soft, slow ways”. I’ll have to search in a library collection.
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I didn’t know this poem; how wonderful to discover here alongside your lovely Golden Shovel!
Congrats and enjoy the judging process; I’m always inspired by what young writers come up with, and their work is in thoughtful hands with you. Happy Poetry Month!
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Thank-you, Robyn. I think it will be an uplifting process – to read the works of so many young poets.
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Congratulations on being asked to judge! What a wonderful honor! And wow! What a challenge–though one that you’re surely up to meeting. I hope you keep us tuned in on the process. I love your golden shovel poem and the inspiring “My Country” is so stirring and heartfelt. A beautiful pairing!
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I’ll keep you all posted, Molly. I’ve had a sneak-peek as early entries have started trickling in and I’m delighted by the promising young writers. So glad you appreciated ‘My Country’ – and my little snippet of country, too.
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I also love a harsh, brown part of our country, so I get your passion for Oz. Congrats on being a judge! You bring amazing expertise and passion to the position!
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There is beauty in everything – but I must admit, there’s something about the colours in the harsh, brown land that stirs my soul, Mary Lee. (And thank-you.)
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Congratulations on being selected to judge! I know you will be wonderful! I didn’t know “From My Country,” but it’s really gorgeous. I love the line you picked- I think kids would love using that line to write a golden shovel about a favorite place.
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It would be a fun line to write to, as individuals within a group, and then see how it took people different places. 🙂
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“Is There Anybody There” is an inviting, intriguing theme. I wonder if you will see a bunch of similar poems because students went the same way with it? When I did Reflections arts competition coordinating, we would sometimes see common responses to a theme — there was one year when everyone did images of people holding hands. I remember one year people used a lot of candy…can’t remember why!
Looking forward to seeing the winners!
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I will be sure to share them – or rather, share a link to them, when it’s all official, Tabatha. (The theme is optional – it will be interesting to see what it produces.)
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Loved both your shovel and the poem from which it was derived!
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Thanks, Donna. 🙂
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I love your shovel, Kat. I’ve only written a couple, but it’s such a wonderful form. You’ve inspired me to write another! “My country” is is truly wonderful. It actually gave me goosebumps. What I adore about it is how celebratory it is of your natural landscape rather than a rah-rah patriotic flag flying anthem, which we tend to lean towards in the U.S. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. Cheers! — Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/
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Yes! Goosebumps. It is just that sort of poem. It is full of passion and so earthy and relatable. I think that celebration of nature is what makes it so well loved. It doesn’t just remind me of my own landscape, but also very different vistas I have seen in my travels, that have stolen a piece of my heart. It’s a national treasure! I’m glad you enjoyed the golden shovel, too. There is just something about that form that stirs the heart, I find.
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