Through studying belonging I have developed an understanding that our tendency to belong is a profound part of human nature. Belonging creates personality, security and cultural identity, when an individual gains this sense of belonging a sense of fulfillment is achieved. This is evident in Peter Skrzynecki’s poems Feliks Skrzynecki, Migrant Hostel, Tim Wintons short story neighbours and Looking for Alibrandi directed by Kate woods.

Peter Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ explores the need to belong through his use of describing his father through his childhood memories. The first stanza express’s the poet’s admiration for his father by using first person pronoun, ‘My gentle father’ this shows familiarity and possession. Which is then again shown through his hyperboles ‘from sunrise to sleep’ and ‘ten times around the world’ it puts emphasis’s on Skyryznecki’s will to exaggerates his father and the sense of connection to his garden, cleverly using the garden as a symbol highlighting his father’s creation of his own world to find that fulfillment and connection of that sense of belonging when he felt he had a detachment from the Australian society.
Furthermore Skrynecki uses the simile ‘Loved his garden like an only child’ to emphasize the parental aspect of his father demonstrating how his father nurtures his garden to form a sense of security. Through this individuality we can see how an individual can create their sense of belonging.

Skrzynecki used the first stanza to show his admiration to his father whereas he now uses the third stanza to highlight his disconnection to his father’s cultural identity and background. Shifting from first person to third person pronoun, ‘His polish friends’ compared to ‘My gentle father’ creates the separation and disconnection to his father but his father’s strong connection to his cultural background is shown here. The