The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet's computer artificial intelligence:

The poem "An American Sailor" presents a vivid portrayal of the life and experiences of sailors, effectively using imagery and emotive language to engage the reader. However, there are areas where the poem could be improved.

Firstly, the poem could benefit from a more varied and complex vocabulary. Using more descriptive and less common words can add depth to the poem and make it more engaging for the reader. For example, instead of "We were men of steel," consider "We were titans of iron," which adds a mythological connotation and a more unique description.

Secondly, the poem could be more concise. There are several instances where the same idea is repeated, which can make the poem feel redundant. For instance, "We worked hours on end," and "Sometimes standing days on end," both convey the idea of long hours and hard work. It might be more effective to combine these ideas into one powerful line.

Lastly, the poem could benefit from more show, less tell. Instead of telling the reader that the sailors were invincible, show this through their actions or experiences. This will make the poem more engaging and allow the reader to draw their own conclusions about the sailors' character and resilience.

In terms of structure, the poem could benefit from more consistent use of stanza breaks. This can help guide the reader through the poem and make it easier to follow. The current structure is somewhat erratic, which can make the poem feel disjointed.

Overall, the poem has a strong theme and effectively conveys the experiences of sailors. With some revisions, it could be even more engaging and powerful.

Please send feedback about Neo (our computer generated critique system) to https://www.neopoet.com/contact

Ships of Wood and Men of Steel as my late father in law would have said. As a survivor of the Barham sinking and the Effingham at Narvik he would have loved this piece. Very evocative. Alex

You may be interested to know that my late father in law was on the bridge of the Effingham when she ran aground at Narvik. He was a young signalman. Although not generally known, though rumoured among the crew, when she ran aground the captain called the pilot a quisling and shot him. He was also on the bridge of Barham which is how he was able to get off before she exploded. Alex