funds for that last meal

funds for that last meal

A Poem by jacob erin-cilberto

 

funds for that last meal

 

 

like a certain severance pay

that torn loose leaf note

you left on the marred dining room table

found me still setting places for you and me

 

etiquette be damned

i wanted to put three knives by your plate

so you could just cut my heart out

relieving me of the pain of entree

 

the too salty walking out

you tended to too often do

without asking to be excused

your sullen demeanor

just rose and left,

 

i was still seasoning my emotions

trying to make tasty impressions

you were driving away,

and driving me mad

 

now your memory is in the freezer

a leftover i refuse to throw away

 

and i still set the table for two

in my mind,

the candlelight dinner

will never have a last flicker

 

i can't snuff the pain

and i still have lots of room

for dessert.

 

thank god, for spoons.

and napkins.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

1/27/17

© 2017 jacob erin-cilberto


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Reviews

Honest and real place described in the poetry.
"now your memory is in the freezer
a leftover i refuse to throw away"
I do liked the above lines. I have a lot of memories stored away. Thank you Jacob for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for relating, Coyote...i appreciate you very much.
j.
Coyote Poetry

7 Years Ago

I did and you are welcome.
very clever and creative. nice job with meal metaphor. great ending. got the woeful tale across very effectively. i sense a slight sarcasm regarding the breakup. there's always takeout. fully enjoyed.

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for your kind words, Pete.
j.
Funny I just found a torn loose leaf note on my trip to France. This poem reminded me of Deb, my neighbor, who in some ways has a piece of memory in my freezer. I'm not thawing mine. I hope you do the same.

Regards,
Al

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

i will never thaw mine...they will remain freshly frozen in there.
thanks Al
j.
This piece is highly relatable to many, the pain of not wanting to let the other person go but at the same time hating the other person for the pain they have caused you to endure. Nicely done :)

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for your kind review...

j.
Kesha

7 Years Ago

You're welcome
"Now your memory is in the freezer
A leftover I refuse to throw away"
So beautiful and relatable! As always, a unique Jacob style excellence shines in this craft too. Thank you Sir, for sharing this write.

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for your kind words, Bala.
j.
Some volatile relationships are hard to pull away from -- like a really delicious plate of something we know will give us heartburn, but we choose to eat despite the after effects.

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

really like your metaphorical response...thanks, KL.
j.
Poignant and clever; a cornucopia of on-point metaphors.

"Now your memory is in the freezer
a leftover I refuse to throw away."

Stunning!


Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for your kind words, Jimmy...

j.
I find my table replacements has been squashed by your splendid write and deservingly so Jacob. You craft your verses with ease my friend. Dark sarcasm is the meal for today maybe regrets for dessert!

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for your kind words, andrew...

but no squashing...two totally different poe.. read more
andrew mitchell

7 Years Ago

yours is splendid j as always to admire!
this is like a dark comedy (darmedy?)
It's very domestic, and to me more nightmarish then any horror flick because it is so mundane and unassuming.

You do a great job of sticking to the kitchen.

The one suggestion I would have is to cut the last two lines. Dunno.

Just seems a bit too neat.

Ending it on "for dessert" i think hits both the sweet and sour note (now you got me doing it lol)

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

it's intended as an afterthought---but maybe is too much...will consider it.
Alessander

7 Years Ago

Yes, I think you teach creative writing, and one of the things I found out is that poets are very te.. read more
jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

yes, and i am always a firm believer in less is more...this is one of those exceptions..tongue in ch.. read more
and i still set the table for two
in my mind,
the candlelight dinner
will never have a last flicker"

Speaks to me of hope and lasting recollections of an uncaring love. It makes us happy to keep the memories albeit in the freezer. And hope.

A great poem Jacob.

Posted 7 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

7 Years Ago

thank you for your words, DIVYA,

j.
DIVYA

7 Years Ago

You are most welcome Jacob.

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Added on January 28, 2017
Last Updated on February 4, 2017

Author

jacob erin-cilberto
jacob erin-cilberto

Carbondale, IL



About
Originally from Bronx, NY, I live in Carbondale, Illinois...teach English at a community college and have been writing and publishing poetry since 1970. I am here to read for inspiration from other po.. more..

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