where have all the epic poems gone?

where have all the epic poems gone?

the short poem

sat in the home,

pondering of when it was longer

more metaphoric,

deeper,

now it tries so hard 

to remember most of the words 

it once held in its iambic fingers

the heart beat has slowed

the rhythm losing its mind

the nurses feed him syllables

hold the thesaurus in front of him

he says he's cold,

feels the chill of obscure cadence

the clarity of stanza

flowing into some misfit wind of memory

the short poem

reaches for its blanket logic

but his fingers are too arthritic

to stretch toward the keys

and his talent is like a carriage

on an old typewriter too rusted

to return to the margins...

erin-cilberto

2/11/17

Reviews

[Ana B.]

Sometimes, we call metaphors our own lies. We believe them so deeply that we see meaning. I savored this. Lovely work!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think your reply is better than the poem...quite an insight..."our own lies" perhaps, yes.

[Ana B.]

Nah, your poem is epic. Truly savored it Jacob :) Thank you though

[Lydia Shutter]

Personally, I prefer poems 20 lines or shorter. With your talent, though, Jacob, you can write as many or as few lines as you wish and the metaphor still shines. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i appreciate you, Lydi....i prefer short poems, too...i know lately some of mine have gotten longer, maybe too long...but the muse has the control....i go where she leads me----even if a part of me objects.

j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Don't object...she leads you down the right road!

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

Well, I think he is brilliant! The cleverest of all endeavors. Happy Valentines Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Queenie...and happy Valentines to you, too...

j.

[Alfred Kukitz]

This old poem guy! I love the idea, moreover, he seems to be a tragic hero!

Great writing!

Regards,
Al

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Al.

j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Your metaphors never cease to captivate the reader's attention Jacob and the contrast between this, pace and inflection, is so different to the previous piece I reviewed tonight. Love the description of being locked into short form:
"fingers are too arthritic
to stretch toward the keys" and
"like a carriage
on an old typewriter too rusted
to return to the margins..."

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, John

j.

[Ken Simm.]

It is a point that has crossed my fevered mind a few times; especially of late. I think I may attempt one now.
A sparkling write Jacob. With your usual wit and wisdom. Impressive if too short.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Ken.

j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

look forward to your attempt!
i am sure you will pull it off very well.

j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I myself write shorter poems, I think I like to make my point quickly.

One of my favorite poem is The Raven by Poe, for me the king of epic poems.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, he is one of the kings for sure...actually i rarely, as you know, write much that is long, if ever...

i actually am more fond of shorter pieces, "less is more" ---but once in awhile...yes, there are epic longer poems...one of my favs is Ferlinghetti's "i am waiting"---

[D Connolly]

I love long story poems! I hardly ever see them, and when I do, I get really excited. Especially ones about dragons and magic or ghosts or something really far out

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, D.---
j.

[James]

Long poems are too much work, I'm afraid. I enjoy them and enjoy writing them but no one reads them anymore. I think the story telling in poetry is fading away and giving in to the feeling of the moment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, and the moment is about very short pieces...attention span kind of thing...thank you, James.read moreyes, and the moment is about very short pieces...attention span kind of thing...thank you, James.
j.

[Tony Jordan]

Sheer brilliance Jacob.
I was brought up on Charge of The Light Brigade as a pre-teen in school and it stayed with me.
The imagery - the metaphor is 'epic' here.

[James]

That is still one of my favorites, that and the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, which is my all-time favorite.

[Tony Jordan]

Cool James. I grew up in a district where all the streets were named after the Crimean War - Sevastapol, Balaclava, Crimea, Balkan, Cape, Cardigan, Raglan. It made the poem come alive even more when we were taught it.