Belonging

Belonging is a way of having acceptance, security and fulfilment whether it’s connecting to a group of friends, family or race and culture. The poems “10 Mary Street” and “Feliks Skrzynecki” by Peter Skrzynecki and the short story “Neighbours” by Tim Winton contains elements that contribute to a sense of connection to people, place, and community.
In “10 Mary Street” by Peter Skrzynecki, their connection to their house is established through the nurturing of their garden. The simile “tended roses and camellias like adopted children” emphasises their strong connection to their garden and their immense care towards it. Peter gains joy and fulfilment from his garden and this enables his attachment to his home to grow. In the fourth stanza, it is evident that the family has established connections with people of similar cultural background, where a sense of familiarity is provided. They have a strong connection with their past and through the use of listing, Peter demonstrates the various memories and common values that they share. The “embracing gestures” evokes a sense of comfort and reassurance with this particular community. This reveals the strong connection that the family has with their house. 
“Neighbours” by Tim Winton presents us with the idea that common interests can bring people together. In the beginning, the newlyweds move into a new environment and experience a cultural barrier. Tim Winton clearly illustrates this through the simile “like sojourners in a foreign land”. This shows that the couple felt unwelcome and frustrated due to their new and unfamiliar surroundings. This is reinforced through the short sentence structure “the street was full of European migrants” which demonstrates how they know little about their neighbours and have no connection established. It is only when they choose to interact with the neighbours do they create a connection with the neighbours and their attitudes shift. This is shown through the shift in tone from “He...