Symbol: Crow ("Legend")
The crow symbolizes change, transformation, destiny, and mysteriousness, among other things, so its presence in "Legend" foreshadows the boy's journey not in a physical sense but in his change from wanting to dominate the natural world to embracing his place within it.
Symbol: Rainbow ("Legend")
The rainbow is typically a symbol of renewal, of rebirth, of a cessation of the storm. Its symbolism derives from Genesis, in which God promises Noah that he will never again flood the world and destroy almost all of mankind; the rainbow is the mark of that covenant. Thus, in "Legend" the rainbow is a covenant of sorts between the boy and nature, for the boy stops trying to dominate nature and instead finds his place within it.
Motif: Winter
Several of the poems feature the winter season, such as "Metho Drinker," "The Old Prison," and "South of My Days." The whistling wind, cold air, dead leaves, and blizzards make the landscape inhospitable for humans. They can only shiver and search for a modicum of comfort because nature is more powerful than they are—the prisoners must make do with their cells, Old Dan and residents of the tableland seek cover in their small cottages, and the homeless drunk in the city crouches in the leaves for warmth. Wright's frequent use of winter suggests the harshness of the Australian landscape and what is required to survive there.
Symbol: Rifle ("Legend")
The rifle is a symbol of humans, of civilization, of violence and aggression. Thus, the boy carrying this weapon into the wilderness is an indication of his arrogance and desire to master the natural world. When the rifle breaks, though, it symbolically shows how he is changing his mindset. By the time he heads home, he has a rainbow instead of a rifle on his shoulder,.
Symbol: Ring ("Legend")
In the poem, the boy begins to change his mindset from one of dominating nature with his gun and his dog to one of embracing the natural world as something he is a part of and should emulate and respect. He then runs like the hare and climbs like the fox, and grabs for the rainbow instead of a gun. Wright compares the rainbow to a "ring of gold," which the boy takes home with him. Ring symbolism, especially from the most famous work associated with rings—Wagner's Ring cycle, derived from the Norse epic Nibelungenlied—centers on power associated with the ring's wearer. In this case, the boy has the power, but the power is not an aggressive kind; it is power legitimately gained and wielded due to his integration in nature.
