Lesson 12. The Weird, the Wonderful, the Whales

Discover the magic of poetry beyond words and sound

This lesson invites students to explore the weird, the wonderful, and the whale-inspired through listening, silence, visual art, and imagination—deepening connection to Country, creativity, and new ways of expression.

Explore four unusual poetic challenges inspired by sound, silence, visual art, and whalesong:

The Weird: A Wordless Poem

Listen

Have a listen to this poem Ursonate by Kurt Schwitters in 1932

Kurt Schwitters was a German artist and poet who was part of the Dada movement, a group of creative people who liked to break the rules of art and poetry to make something new and surprising.

One of Schwitters’ most famous works is called “Sonata in Urlautes” or “Ursonate”. This poem is special because it’s made entirely of nonsense sounds instead of real words. Schwitters used sounds like “ba,” “da,” and “ka” to create rhythms and patterns that feel like music you can listen to and feel.

The Ursonate is considered a landmark phonetic poem—which means it focuses on the sounds of language rather than its meaning. It shows that poetry can be about how words sound, not just what they mean.

This playful poem helped change how people think about poetry, opening up new ways to enjoy language as music and creative expression, even without using real words!

Reflect

How does a poem made only of nonsense syllables communicate mood without words?

Create

Choose one of the poems in this resource as your inspiration and try to convey the same mood using only nonsense syllables—no real words allowed.

Share

Record and share your wordless poem as audio or video.

(This activity originally appeared in Poems to Share)

The Wonderful: A Painted Poem

Look

This beautiful work is a visual poem by Bidjigal drawer, painter and weaver, Uncle Steve Russell. Uncle Steve was born at La Perouse Mission on the shores of Botany Bay, Sydney.

Uncle Steve's painting Sunset over My Country is a visual poem on how he sees and feels Country, it's meaning, shape, pattern and colour. It is a map of both the interior and exterior Country, as this is all one. As is poetry. From a First Nations perspective poetry is not just written or spoken word, it is found in all creativity — song, dance, movement, breath, Country and relationship.

Reflect

How does Uncle Steve Russell’s painted poem expand your understanding of poetry beyond words?

Create

Paint a poem that reflects how Country looks and feels to you, using your unique style. Avoid copying Aboriginal painting styles.

Share

Display your painted poem and explain the feelings and stories it conveys.

The Whales: Whalesong, Humanpoem

Listen

Take a moment to listen to the whale song recordings from the Baraya Barray ~ Whale Song archive, focusing on the intricate rhythms, pitches, patterns, consonants, clicks, and swooping vowel sounds.

Reflect

What images, colors, or feelings did the whale song inspire? How might these shape your poem?

Write down any emotions, colors, images, or words that come to mind. Translate the whale sounds into your own language.

Create

Write a poem inspired by whale song, translating sounds into words, colors, or textures, and use poetic sound devices like rhythm or repetition.

Share

Share your whale-inspired poem aloud or in writing, describing how the whale song influenced your work.

(This activity originally appeared in the Barraya Barray - Whale Song project as Listening to Whales)

Tips for Teachers and Parents

• Encourage openness to poetry beyond words — soundless, wordless, and visual forms all count.
• Use multisensory approaches: listening, watching, painting, and movement deepen engagement.
• Emphasise cultural respect by encouraging original styles, especially when inspired by First Nations art.
• Ask open questions about feelings and images to foster emotional connection.
• Provide access to resources like Auslan Signbank for sign language learning.
• Create a supportive environment where all creative expressions are celebrated.