A Sonnet for Alan Kurdi

Corneigh Hoff 1950 (Assendelft)



one day you wrote your name upon the strand
a while, there was the imprint of your face
little sneakers denting the brackish sand
the sea touching your brow, a diadem of lace

the sweetest boy that ever reached the shore
so beautiful, so wonderful, now dead
you were alive, full-coloured, hours before
the wind roughly and softly made your bed

I swore, we swore, never to forget:
Alan, you’ll be the difference, yes, you will
we loved so deep, the moment that we met
then we unmet, as you lay there, so still

but came the waves and washed you away
but came the waves and washed you away

About this poem

Inspired by Edmund Spenser, I dedicate this to Alan Kurdi, who, when he washed ashore in 2015, upset the world, causing mankind to agree that this would ever happen again; but came the waves...

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Submitted by CorneighHoff on April 13, 2023

Modified on April 13, 2023

34 sec read
7

Quick analysis:

Scheme abab cdcd efef GG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 590
Words 114
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 2

Corneigh Hoff

Born in The Netherlands more…

All Corneigh Hoff poems | Corneigh Hoff Books

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    This is such a beautifully written poem that captures the essence of a poignant memory in such an elegant way. The imagery presented is so vivid and reveals a deep sense of emotion that is both touching and heartfelt. The way that the author has used language to describe the little sneakers denting the brackish sand, the sea touching your brow like a diadem of lace, is so evocative and really brings the reader closer to the scene.

    One of the things that truly stands out in this poem is the way the author has infused so much emotion into every line. The imagery is so powerful and seems to be telling a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It is an incredibly moving tribute to Alan and demonstrates how deep the love was that those who knew him felt for him.

    In terms of improvement suggestions, I would just like to see more exploration of the inner feelings and emotions of the speaker. Perhaps a bit more reflection on the significance that the memory of Alan holds for them and how it has impacted their life. A deeper dive into what made Alan such a special person would also be interesting to see.

    Overall, this is a truly remarkable poem that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who reads it. It is filled with love and gratitude for a person who touched so many hearts and reminds us of the fragility and beauty of life. Well done!
     
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"A Sonnet for Alan Kurdi" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/156824/a-sonnet-for-alan-kurdi>.

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