Article 17: You Will Never Understand: A Parody of “I Tell You True” by Ali Cobby Eckermann

Madison Gurniak

           Ali Cobby Eckermann was born in 1963 in Adelaide and identifies herself as a Yankunytjatjara/ Kokatha. As Aboriginal, Eckermann has endured some of the distressing challenges the community has suffered in history. She was adopted at a tender age and continually suffered sexual abuse and immense racism. She gave birth at the age of 19 and his child was adopted away. However, at the age of 34, she met her birth mother and her son four years later.  “I Tell True” is one of the most compelling and captivating poems by Eckermann. She uses the poem to tell the story of her life as an Indigenous woman. In a greater sense, “I Tell Your True” speaks to the experiences of Indigenous communities in Australia, struggling with everyday hurdles to make it in life. I use this poem as a point of inspiration to create a parody that also highlights the experiences and plight of the Indigenous communities in Australia. My motivation is to include the suffering of the Indigenous communities collectively especially in Australia rather than just Eckermann’s because we also learnt Jane Harrison’s drama, Rainbow’s Rain in the course of Indigenous Women and Literature 1, which gives us another picture of how Indigenous people have been struggling to make a living in a world that cares less about them.

Markedly, in Rainbows End, Jane Harrison also highlights some of the disturbing experiences that Indigenous communities have suffered over the course of history. According to Harrison, they have been victimized and mistreated, enduring endless torment and assault not just as indigenous community members but also as women.

 “You Will Never Understand” parodies Eckermann’s poem in format but the challenges and tribulations are expanded to those revealed in Harrison’s play such as forceful assimilation, hunger, disease, oppression, discrimination, and racism. In readdressing these problems, this poem aims at sending a stronger message to the oppressors. However, it is important to note that while Cobby’s poem does not have a specific rhyme scheme, the parody has a rhyme scheme to make it more entertaining as much as it highlights the struggles of the marginalized communities in Australia. The speaker is an Indigenous woman while the target audience is the dominant White Australian community.

You Will Never Understand   by Madison Gurniak	I Tell You True   by Ali Cobby Eckermann
Even if I told you, you will never understand! When I was introduced to your mainstream culture I was told to abandon my olden backland It was a trick to disown my traditional structure With the promise of thriving in fantasyland But instead I suffer. With my community on a deserted island You will never understand, even with this short overture.	I can’t stop drinking, I tell you true since I watched my daughter perish She burned to death inside a car I lost what I most cherish I saw the angels hold her as I screamed with useless hope I can’t stop drinking, I tell you true It’s the only way I cope!
You will never understand the pain we endure Struggling to make ends meet With poverty eating away our flesh for sure The life battle for us is a certain defeat. Diseases ravaging our communities with no access to cure It’s another reminder we won’t accomplish a feat With our minds at peace and souls so pure You will never understand the mistreat!	I can’t stop drinking, I tell you true since I found my sister dead She hung herself to stop the rapes I found her in the shed The rapist bastard still lives here unpunished in this town I can’t stop drinking, I tell you true since I cut her down.
You will never understand our struggle With your so-called English Our cultural language is in trouble For being branded outlandish. But even for the animals in the jungle Communication is needed to flourish We accept our position in the tangle For you will never understand you are selfish!	I can’t stop drinking, I tell you true since my mother passed away. They found her battered down the creek I miss her more each day My family blamed me for her death their words have made me wild I can’t stop drinking, I tell you true ’cos I was just a child.
So if you see us drink and cry And suffer and die Just close your eyes For you will never understand why!	So if you see someone like me who’s drunk and loud and cursing Don’t judge too hard, you never know what sorrows we are nursing.

 Authors’ Bio: Madison Gurniak was born and raised in Thompson, Manitoba. She attends University College of the North and is currently in her third year in the Bachelor of Arts program. Once completed, she will then go on to apply at Red River with her goal to be a Sonographer. Madison’s desire to work in the medical field began when she was young and wanted to be like her grandmother working in the medical field.

Instructor Remarks: Madison Gurniak took online course of Indigenous Women and Literature 1, which is a third-year course cross-listed for both English Program and Aboriginal and Northern Studies. Encouraged by Ali Cobby Eckermann, an Indigenous poet from Australia, Madison parodies Eckermann’s “I Tell You True”, and produces her own poem, “You Will Never Understand.” I am so glad to see Madison’s creativity in poem writing. By making a parody, Madison is able to use an Indigenous woman’s voice tell non-Indigenous readers about the Indigenous people’s sufferings. Madison’s “You Will Never Understand” does not only show her own poetic skills but also offers keys to the questions raised in Eckermann’s  “I Tell You True.”—Dr. Ying Kong.