'The New Hieroglyphics' by Les Murray


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In the World language, sometimes called
Airport Road, a thinks balloon with a gondola
under it is a symbol for speculation.

Thumbs down to ear and tongue:
World can be written and read, even painted
but not spoken.  People use their own words.

Latin letters are in it for names, for e.g.
OK and H2S O4, for musical notes,
but mostly it's diagrams: skirt-figure, trousered figure

have escaped their toilet doors.  I (that is, saya,
Ego, watashji wa) am two eyes without pupils;
those aren't seen when you look out through them.

You has both pupils, we has one, and one blank.
Good is thumbs up, thumb and finger zipping lips
is confidential. Evil is three-cornered snake eyes.

The effort is always to make the symbols obvious:
the bolt of electricity, winged stethoscope of course
for flying doctor.  Prams under fire?  Soviet film industry.

Pictographs also shouldn't be too culture-bound:
A heart circled and crossed out surely isn't.
For red, betel spit lost out to ace of diamonds.

Black is the ace of spades.  The kind of spades
reads Union boss, the two is feeble effort.
If is the shorthand Libra sing , the scales.

Spare literal pictures render most nouns and verbs
and computers can draw them faster than Pharaoh's scribes.
A bordello prospectus is as explicit as the action,

but everywhere there's sunflower talk, i.e.
metaphor, as we've seen.  A figure riding a skyhook
bearing food in one hand is the pictograph for grace,

two animals in a book read Nature, two books
Inside an animal, instinct.  Rice in bowl with chopsticks
denotes food. Figure 1 lying prone equals other.

Most emotions are mini-faces, and the speech
balloon is ubiquitous.  A bull inside one is dialect
for placards inside one.  Sun and moon together

inside one is poetry. Sun and moon over palette,
over shoes etc are all art forms — but above
a cracked heart and champagne glass?  Riddle that

and you're starting to think in World, whose grammar
is Chinese-terse and fluid.  Who needs the square-
equals-diamond book, the dictionary,to know figures

led by strings to their genitals mean fashion?
just as a skirt beneath a circle meanas demure
or ao similar circle shouldering two arrows is macho.

All peoples are at times cat in water with this language
but it does promote international bird on shoulder.
This foretaste now lays its knife and fork parallel.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The New Hieroglyphics: A Deep Dive into Les Murray's Masterpiece

Have you ever read a poem that leaves you in awe? A poem that strikes a chord deep within you, making you ponder its meaning for hours on end? For me, that poem is Les Murray's "The New Hieroglyphics". In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I'll take you on a journey through this masterpiece, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism.

Background Information

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to discuss the author, Les Murray. Born in 1938 in New South Wales, Australia, Murray is often considered one of Australia's greatest poets. He was awarded numerous accolades throughout his career, including the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, and the Petrarch Prize. Murray passed away in 2019, leaving behind a legacy of powerful poetry that continues to resonate with readers around the world.

"The New Hieroglyphics" was first published in Murray's 1996 collection, "Subhuman Redneck Poems". The collection, which explores themes of rural life, identity, and globalization, was a departure from Murray's earlier work, which often focused on landscape and nature. "The New Hieroglyphics" is one of the standout pieces from the collection, a poem that continues to captivate readers over two decades later.

Analysis

At its core, "The New Hieroglyphics" is a poem about language and communication. Murray explores the ways in which language is evolving, becoming more complex and nuanced as the world becomes more connected. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each one building on the themes and imagery of the previous one.

The first stanza begins with a striking image:

On the black screen,
all that was heard was the white pen.

Here, Murray is playing with the idea that language is both spoken and written. The "black screen" represents the medium through which language is transmitted (in this case, perhaps a computer screen), while the "white pen" represents the act of writing. This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Murray works to blur the lines between spoken and written language.

The second stanza introduces the idea of language as a "hieroglyphic code":

A code of signs,
but not of peace.

Murray is drawing a comparison between language and the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, which were a complex system of symbols used to represent words and ideas. Just as the hieroglyphics were a way to communicate across time and space, language today serves a similar purpose. However, Murray notes that language is not always peaceful - it can be used to convey anger, frustration, and other negative emotions.

In the third stanza, Murray introduces the idea of "cyber speech":

Talk goes online,
its cubes and pyramids
a glitter of new hieroglyphics.

Here, Murray is playing with the idea that language is evolving in the digital age. He uses the metaphor of "cubes and pyramids" to represent the complex and ever-changing nature of language in the digital realm. The "glitter of new hieroglyphics" suggests that language is becoming more complex and nuanced, with new symbols and codes emerging every day.

The fourth stanza takes a darker turn, as Murray describes the ways in which language can be used to manipulate and deceive:

And somewhere else
in the world, in a cave,
someone is learning these new hieroglyphics
to make them kill.

Here, Murray is drawing a connection between language and power. He notes that the same intricate codes and symbols that allow us to communicate across borders and cultures can also be used to spread hate and violence. The image of someone learning these "new hieroglyphics" to "make them kill" is haunting, and serves as a warning about the power of language in the wrong hands.

In the fifth stanza, Murray returns to the idea of language as a complex, ever-evolving system:

In a Sydney suburb,
a boy crouches before a screen,
The hieroglyphics flicker
like a neon sign.

Here, Murray is highlighting the global nature of language in the digital age. The fact that a boy in Sydney can be studying the same hieroglyphics as someone in a cave on the other side of the world is a testament to the power of technology to connect us. The image of the flickering neon sign suggests that language is always in motion, always changing and evolving.

Finally, in the sixth stanza, Murray returns to the idea of language as both spoken and written:

But the new hieroglyphics
are all on screen.
Only a few know them
as talk.

Here, Murray is acknowledging that language is becoming increasingly digital, with more and more of our communication taking place through screens. However, he also notes that there are still those who understand the power of spoken language, and who use it to great effect.

Interpretation

So, what does all of this mean? What is Murray trying to tell us with "The New Hieroglyphics"? At its core, the poem is a commentary on the power of language to connect us - but also to divide us. Murray is drawing attention to the fact that as the world becomes more connected through technology, language is becoming more complex and nuanced. However, he is also warning us that this complexity can be used to manipulate and deceive, to spread hate and violence.

At the same time, Murray is celebrating the power of language to bring us together. He notes that despite the fact that language is becoming increasingly digital, there are still those who understand the importance of spoken language. This suggests that while technology may be changing the way we communicate, the power of human connection through language remains as strong as ever.

Conclusion

"The New Hieroglyphics" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Through its intricate imagery and complex themes, Murray explores the evolving nature of language and its power to connect us - and to divide us. As we continue to navigate the digital age, with all of its complexities and challenges, Murray's poem serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and human connection.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The New Hieroglyphics: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Les Murray's "The New Hieroglyphics" is a poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetry that has captured the hearts of readers for decades. The poem is a complex and intricate work of art that explores the relationship between language, culture, and identity. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line "The old hieroglyphics were a language of pictures." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and introduces the central theme of language. Murray is suggesting that language is not just a means of communication but also a way of expressing culture and identity. The old hieroglyphics were a way for ancient Egyptians to express their beliefs, values, and traditions. Murray is suggesting that language is not just a tool for communication but also a way of preserving culture and identity.

The poem then moves on to describe the new hieroglyphics. Murray writes, "The new hieroglyphics are a language of numbers." This line is significant because it suggests that our modern world is driven by numbers and statistics. We live in a world where everything is quantified and measured. Murray is suggesting that our modern language is no longer about expressing culture and identity but about measuring and quantifying everything.

The poem then goes on to describe the new hieroglyphics in more detail. Murray writes, "They are the language of the stock exchange, the language of the computer, the language of the scientist." This line is significant because it suggests that our modern language is dominated by technology and science. We live in a world where technology and science are the driving forces behind our language and culture.

Murray then goes on to describe the consequences of this new language. He writes, "The new hieroglyphics are a language of power, a language of control." This line is significant because it suggests that our modern language is not just about communication but also about power and control. Murray is suggesting that our modern language is used to control and manipulate people.

The poem then moves on to describe the consequences of this new language on our culture and identity. Murray writes, "We have lost the language of the heart, the language of the soul." This line is significant because it suggests that our modern language has led to a loss of culture and identity. Murray is suggesting that our modern language has led to a loss of the things that make us human.

The poem then ends with the line, "The new hieroglyphics are a language of death." This line is significant because it suggests that our modern language is leading us towards our own destruction. Murray is suggesting that our modern language is leading us towards a world where we have lost our culture, identity, and humanity.

In terms of structure, the poem is divided into four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem has a consistent rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming with each other, and the second and fourth lines rhyming with each other. This consistent structure gives the poem a sense of order and control, which is ironic given the poem's message about the loss of control in our modern world.

In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of metaphor, repetition, and imagery. The metaphor of the old and new hieroglyphics is used throughout the poem to explore the theme of language and culture. The repetition of the phrase "the new hieroglyphics" is used to emphasize the poem's message about the dominance of technology and science in our modern world. The imagery of the language of the heart and soul is used to contrast the new hieroglyphics and emphasize the loss of culture and identity in our modern world.

In conclusion, Les Murray's "The New Hieroglyphics" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the relationship between language, culture, and identity. The poem's message about the dominance of technology and science in our modern world and the loss of culture and identity is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written. The poem's use of metaphor, repetition, and imagery make it a powerful and thought-provoking work of art that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.

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