Review by veniq mars -- The Immigrant's Lament

[veniq mars]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Immigrant's Lament" by Mois benarroch.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Immigrant's lament by Mois Benarroch is an assortment of poems that demystify the story of the speaker's excursion from being a social phenomenon to a loner who ends up in a corner and seeks consolation in poetry. From a spoiled Moroccan prince to an Israelite resident where everyone has to work. Being an immigrant, a father and a husband, he explains his bohemian life.

In some poems the speaker shares with the reader how at times he seemed to lack confidence in his work. He queries the purpose of the poems and for whom they are written but at the end the subject matter often leads to resolution and reconciliation. In other poems he sounds to my ear like a poet in a struggle to observe his culture and appreciate it, the sabbath for instant. By stepping into another's life and actually be able to feel it from his perspective could have profound positive effect on society.

I love how the book is sausage-packed with repetition, rhythm, rhyme, imagery and irony. It displays line integrity to the maximum. There are not so many poets whose work I read on a regular basis but I noticed the pleasure in these particular poems come gradually and if you happen to have read some of Mois' work they become memorable. They are a reminder of his other work and are a confession of life's tussles as an immigrant, a step by step explanation of the experiencies. He further discloses information touching toward his family.

The poems explore various life aspects and try to dig into them with humour incorporation while taking note of the seriousness in the themes. The lament of the immigrant is not strictly attached to people in the same situation (immigrants). Its an open book and thus can be enjoyed by a broad group. There are a good number of poems that create an urge to re-read and therefore the book will be of relevance to any person that enjoys poetry.

In fairness, I got a bang out of most of the poems, the humour was incredible and the flow of lines and words of the speaker's narration astounding. This is why I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Sometimes speaking the truth is hard, but if you read such poems that are someone else's truth, they allow you to say what is in your mind without the fear of being judged. Mois goes further to expose you to struggles that some you have never witnessed first hand and they open your eyes. The book is constructive and deserves to enlighten more readers.

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The Immigrant's Lament
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[Rosemary Okoko]

Good to know that you enjoyed this book. I read it a while back and liked it. Though it might be a bit confusing, in the end you get to understand it. Nice review.

[veniq mars]

Thank you.