| "Lifesaver" | |
|---|---|
| byElizabeth Riddell | |
| Written | 1931 |
| First published in | The Bulletin |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | 4 March 1931 |
"Lifesaver" (1931) is a poem by Australian poetElizabeth Riddell.[1]
It was originally published inThe Bulletin on 4 March 1931,[2] as by "Elizabeth Richmond", and was subsequently reprinted in the author's single-author collections and a number of Australian poetry anthologies.[1]
The poem depicts the death of a youth from drowning on an Australian beach as he is returned to shore bylifesavers.
While reviewing the author's poetry collectionPoems in 1948 aBulletin reviewer noted: "The distinguishing qualities of Elizabeth Riddell'sPoems (Ure Smith Pty. Ltd.) are a rich and colorful imagery and the sparkle of epigram...It is with some surprise that one realises, among the tropic landscapes or in the sunlight of wit, that almost all the poems are concerned, one way or another, with death. Sometimes, as in "Lifesaver," the theme is stated clearly and sharply."[3]
After the poem's initial publication inThe Bulletin it was reprinted as follows: