African Thunderstorm by David Rubadiri From the west

African Thunderstorm by David Rubadiri

From the west, Clouds come hurrying with the wind Turning sharply Her and there Like a plague of locusts Whirling Tossing up things on its tail Like a madman chasing nothing. Pregnant clouds Ride stately on its back Gathering to perch on hills Like sinister dark wings; The wind whistles by And trees bend to let it pass. In the village Screams of delighted children Toss and turn In the din of the whirling wind,

Women. Babies clinging to their backs. Dart about In and out Madly; The wind whistles by Whilst trees bend to let it pass. Clothes wave like tattered flags Flying off To expose dangling breasts As jagged blinding flashes Rumble, tremble and crack Amidst the smell of fired smoke And the pelting march of the storm

From the west, Clouds come hurrying with the wind Personifica tion Turning sharply Her and there Simile (comparing) Emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the Like a plague of locusts Whirling Tossing up things on its tail Like a madman chasing nothing. Onomatop oeia

Pregnant clouds Ride stately on its back Personification and metaphor – Comparing the large clouds to a pregnant woman. Gathering to perch on hills Simile Like sinister dark wings; The wind whistles by Personificatio n And trees bend to let it pass. Onomatopoei a

In the village Screams of delighted children Contrast between the happy screams of the children who don’t know the danger and the fear of the Women who is fleeing for cover. Onamatop oeia Toss and turn In the din of the whirling wind, Women. Babies clinging to their backs. Dart about In and out Alliterati on

Madly; The wind whistles by Personification – Bowing down 2 nd time for emphasize – how powerful is the wind. Whilst trees bend to let it pass. Clothes wave like tattered flags Flying off To expose dangling breasts Onomatop oeia The storm is here now! Clothes are flying off.

It seems that the cloud has delivered its offspring as lightening an thunderbolts strike. As jagged blinding flashes Rumble, tremble and crack Consonan ce Amidst the smell of fired smoke And the pelting march of the storm Personificati on

1. The THEME - Man vs Nature The MOOD – Chaotic The TONE – Somber 2. It is centered in a village in Africa. 3. It is about a harsh impending storm that is coming to strike a village. 4. CONTRAST - Children scream of delight – they do not know of the dangers of the storm. Whereas the mothers dart with their children to find safety.