The concept of a journey can be described as many things, usually the movement between two points whereby the experience may be positive and or negative. All types of journeys, regardless of the form, will always have obstacles or challenges that may prevent one from reaching the destination or goal, how one overcomes these can determine their experience and transformation. The study of Bruce Dawe’s’ poems ‘Drifters’ and ‘Weapons training’ in addition with Robert Zemeckis’ film ‘Forrest Gump (1994)’ and Mark Twain’s novel ‘Huckleberry Finn’ was a vicarious journey for myself, which has greatly expanded my understanding of myself, of individuals and of the world. Dawe’s use of figurative language in Drifters and Weapons Training, Twain’s various narrative techniques in Huckleberry Finn and Zemeckis’ use of film flashbacks and characterisation all effectively convey aspects of inner, physical and imaginative journeys that engage responders.

The poem ‘Drifters’ is written in third person narration, which is effectively used to give the responders a sense of presence. ‘Drifters’ describes an inner and physical journey of a nomadic family, as indicated by the title. The poem is about a family who is constantly on the move, without any direction or destination. The perspective the poem takes on is of the mother in the family who desires for the moving to stop and to permanently settle within a place. The opening of the poem “One day soon he’ll tell her it’s time to start packing,” suggests that there will be a journey ahead which highlights the inevitability of this journey. Additionally, the words ‘tell her’ emphasizes the futility of objection the wife has in regards to the journey the family takes thus reinforcing the inevitability of drifting.

Bruce Dawe implements symbolism and contrast to convey the impact of the journey it has on the mother. Dawe mentions ‘Green tomatoes from the vines’ and ‘the unpacked bottling-set’ which alludes to the fact that they haven’t been there long enough to pick ripe tomatoes and use the bottling-set. Furthermore, the memory of the ‘berries’ the mother first held out when they arrived is symbolic of the lost hope. Moreover the mention of ‘Make a wish, Tom, make a wish’ is ironic in sense that the wish of settling in was unfulfilled and their on the move again. Through this we as responders are able to understand the inner and physical journey that is present within ‘Drifters’.