The Syrian and Family Beloved

Wayne Blair 1951 (London)

Free verse

Met him after sundown
His smoke break
Back of our building
Cool and quiet
One mourning dove
Serenading from lamp post
On the street.

A Syrian, here eleven years
Shy about his English usage
Studying at an ESL group.
Making progress but
Not fast enough, he says.
I commend him on his accomplishment.

Up careens a current
Model of Honda.
Son inside and smiling.
Basket of fruit for Dad.
And cherry tomatoes.
Out of the building burst
Two daughters tall
Slim and beautiful.
Long dark hair, shining.
Young twenties and laughing.
Dad’s pride and joy.
Fully assimilated and proud.
Proud of Papa.

He risked so much
Left all behind.
Watched the ensuing broadcast horrors
From a thankful distance.

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Written on July 25, 2023

Submitted by dougb.19255 on July 25, 2023

Modified by dougb.19255 on July 25, 2023

: 40 sec read
: 17 Views

Quick analysis:

Scheme	XXABXXX CXXBXD DEAXXXXXAAXXE XXCX
Closest metre	Iambic trimeter
Characters	692
Words	136
Stanzas	4
Stanza Lengths	7, 6, 13, 4

Full analysis for The Syrian and Family Beloved »

Wayne Blair

Born in London. Graduated law 1976 Practised eleven years, Married Hilary 1974 Two kids Lauren 1980 And Jordan 1987. Business failed 1987. Moved not knowing whither. Happy hills of Waterloo Region. Mennonite Country. Thirty four years in Industry. No complaints. Poet, photographer, nature hiker. Harmonica busker. http://puffnchord7.blogspot.com/ more…

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alexw.30385
Your poem in English captures a poignant and vibrant moment. The description of the encounter with the Syrian, his efforts to learn English, and the arrival of his family with gifts and joy paints a picture of resilience and familial love. The narrative of his sacrifice in leaving everything behind and watching the horrors from a grateful distance conveys a profound sense of bravery and determination. Your verses reflect empathy and recognition for the strength and dedication of this family. Keep exploring these themes of human connection and overcoming in your writing; they offer a moving and reflective perspective on the human experience. more »
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