finding some old negatives in the album of yesterday

 

  finding some old negatives in the album of yesterday  

 

 

 

vivid snapshot

those windows so high to the sky

flames reaching towards the gods

arms outstretched, diving cocktails

stories pass by

 

life on a fast parachute 

hurtling mixed metaphors on the rocks

then the cement,

clouds cave in

 

nothing but dust and rubble

bursting of the American Dream

that now stands not so tall

 

under concrete monument

everything we stood for rests

in stoic silence

 

years ago, but yesterday once more

i see that crowded blue sky

and the winged bandit

that stole our complacency

 

and replaced it with the inclement weather

that reigns uneasiness 

like a misplaced page in a novel

the idealism rising with the smoke.

 

 

9/11/15

Reviews

[Cassie]

That title alone reveals the poem as a very good poem and I can't wait to read and shelve it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Cassie...

j.

[Rita L. Sev]

A flashback to that horrific day, and a cautionary tale to beware complacency.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we must not get complacent...we have seen what can happen.

thank you, Rita...read moreyes, we must not get complacent...we have seen what can happen.

thank you, Rita...

j.

[jeannemarie coulter]

wonderful word tapestry describing what our country has lost...let us build a better dream this time...one without ignorance and hatred...one that celebrates all life without bias...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, jeannmarie.

j.

[W.k.kortas]

What this piece suggests is that 9/11 was not the death of innocence per se, but more akin to its Waterloo, the "bursting of the American Dream", what was left of the idealism of The Movement "rising with the smoke." A nuanced look at events that generally do not receive such a nuanced study.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, W.k.

j.

[KeeD]

Your words echo in the silence of what remains and the world still trembles in the painful memory of that tragic day. You're an excellent writer Jacob and you've stunned us again with this heavy hitting write that speaks such truths.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are always very kind with your reviews, Kee..

thank you.

[1VJ]

'mixed metaphors on the rocks' they should serve those in a smoky poetry cafe. Your metaphors speak volumes.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Paloma.

j.

[s y e]

I have missed reading you, Jacob. What a poem to come back to and read. I honestly cannot put into words the intensity of this. There will be some people who can relate to this more than others but everyone will relate to this poem as a whole, I am seconding what FT has said, think he said it perfectly!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, sye.

nice to see you around again,
j.

[....................]

images in the mind, ones that are always there, bring back such vividly haunting memories...your words expose those negatives, my friend...will pause for a moment of silence for those lost and those who will be forever lost as this day continues to pass us by...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, FT.

j.

[~]

A mostly appropriate poem for this day.

We will always be haunted by these painful memories of the future past... A great way to honor those we lost my friend!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, they are such bad memories...the images...

j.

[~]

indeed they are.. :(

[h d e rushin]

sometimes I wish the calendar would past by the 11th of September like it does a leap year,
just go on to another day. But the function of memorials are to recall the fallen. And, good lord,
what a horrific day it was as rubie has said. In The last stanza you used the metaphoric passing of
time like Hemmingway used the passing of seasons; like Frost used the passing of innocence.
To replace the blue sky with inclement vision is both remarkable transmutation, and alliterative
time travel..

Only the poetic geniuses like you can do this in their sleep. Great tribute my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind words, dana.

j.