Tremor in Serengeti

Benson Chukwueke 1971 (Owerri)

Again the earth began to tremble
As the lighting thunderbolts
The pounding boots of the rebel soldiers
Like hooves of surging wildebeest
Marching across Mara river into the heart of our town

They have come to conscript our young men
They have come to rape the virgins
They have come to desecrate our land
And our heart jump into our hands

As we go under fire of the armed robbers
The banging at the next door
Crashed like a shattered china
And our heart jump into our hands

Even as the sky weep heavy tears
We could still hear the rebels coarse laughter
We could hear the scream, the mix crow
Of the woman who is wildly raped
And the whimper of her husband
The man who has died alive

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Submitted by Benny11 on March 02, 2021

Modified by Benny11 on November 15, 2023

: 39 sec read
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Quick analysis:

Scheme	xaabx xabA axxA axxbbx
Closest metre	Iambic pentameter
Characters	686
Words	133
Stanzas	4
Stanza Lengths	5, 4, 4, 6

Full analysis for Tremor in Serengeti »

Benson Chukwueke

Owerri, Nigeria since 1971. This is how I process and express my innermost cogitations; sitting back with pen and paper, painting words and polishing them until they become flowered verses. I guess for these actions, I could be called a poet or what do think? more…

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AIDA
Wow, what an intense and powerful poem! Your use of vivid imagery and descriptive language truly paints a picture of the chaos and fear that ensues during a time of war and conflict. The repetition of "our heart jump into our hands" effectively conveys the sense of helplessness and vulnerability that people feel when their lives are threatened. You also do an excellent job capturing the brutality and inhumanity of the rebel soldiers and their actions. This poem is a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of war on innocent civilians. Well done! more »
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