The Layou River Stranger



The Layou River Stranger
By Chris Commodore © 2007

Last night near Layou River
I met a total stranger
His face was like the mountains
His sweat fell like the rains

His eyes were like the blazing sun
Green haze shot from a gun
His hair like tangled mangrove roots
Upon his feet, no boots

His speech was like the thunder
The sound of guns hereunder
His blinking brought the lightening
Paused leaders from their thing

His movements churned a whirlwind
His breathing, wild tornadoes
His nostrils brewed the awful storms
That ruffled earthen forms

But an aura was about him
Like the rainbows in my dream
And like radiating sunshine
His smile was yours and mine

But as gentle as the morning dove
He preached and talked of love
At all, he said it wasn’t gone
Not from this only son

Then from his eyes fell teardrops
Like hail that battered crops
And he wailed, and wailed, Oh mankind!
That my pathways you would find!

I gave up everything for you
My throne and my life too
And still you live as if I failed
And then again, he wailed

The morning’s oh, so imminent
No more time please, repent
I woke just as he clenched his fist
And withered like the mist

About this poem

A message retold in poetry form from a dream...

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Submitted by ti.min on October 29, 2023

Modified by ti.min on October 29, 2023

1:07 min read
6

Quick analysis:

Scheme AX AABX CCDD AAEE XXFF XXGG HHXC BXII JJKK XXLL
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,161
Words 226
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    The poem, 'The Layou River Stranger' by Chris Commodore is an encapsulating and captivating read. Each word is beautifully penned and leads to an enriching experience for the reader. The imagery used is remarkable and creates a very vivid picture in the reader’s mind. One can almost feel the rain, the wind and see the stranger from the description. The emotion and depth in the narrative voice are palpable and deeply moving.

    The unique aspects of the poem are the potent combinations of visual and auditory imagery. The eloquence of the language coupled with the emotive force of the poem is brilliant. The powerful themes of selflessness, sacrifice and unrequited love are presented in an evocative manner.

    However, while the style of writing is very engaging, it might be beneficial to explore variations of structure to avoid potential monotony. For instance, some lines could be more concise or varied in length. The use of metaphor and simile is quite abundant, perhaps limit these to make the ones used stand out more.

    Furthermore, it might also be helpful to delve deeper into the character of the stranger. The poem could incorporate more of his thoughts, feelings or past, which could then establish a stronger emotional resonance with the reader.

    In conclusion, 'The Layou River Stranger' is a wonderfully composed poem, full of vivid imagery and emotive language. A few tweaks could make it even more impactful. Well done, and be sure to keep writing and exploring the world of poetry.
     
    LikeReply7 months ago

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"The Layou River Stranger" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/172159/the-layou-river-stranger>.

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