conclusions never finished

conclusions never finished

i carved your initials

into my desk, under the pad, under the ink blot

under my heart

into the skin of my perusing

even though you were using

me

to put your ego on a pedestal

where you feel most comfortable

i wrote epic poems of unrequited love

as you wrote Pulitzer worthy "see you later" notes

and left them on the kitchen table

tucked neatly under the salt shaker

you used to pour insult into the wound

once again... a single place setting

i spun my coffee cup

twirled the spilled mocha

with my thumb and forefinger

singed with the pain

matched only by that in my heart

the stanzas lengthened 

your goodbye notes got shorter

my sense of security burned in the toaster

with the bread i forgot was put down twice

now i had been, thrice

black toast

black ops 

love in virtual vulnerability

my words splayed upon a screen

they all saw you leaving

felt my pain

shed a tear or two for me

and then panned my poem

more often than any 49'er panned for gold

the coffee chilled

the last note said "gone"

and inadvertently i remembered

i wrote it myself

as a postscript 

to the epic poem i never finished

just partially scrawled

on imagined parchment

made out of napkin memory

soaked with the tears i breathe.

erin-cilberto

2/26/17

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Heartbreaking tale of love lost and the loneliness that ensues. We do express it all in our poetry and it is out there for the world to see. Some are not kind with our pain. The kitchen table metaphor is a good one for this...makes it so easy to relate to your words. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Lydi.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

sometimes we forget that the poet really does bleed ...i am left sitting in respect of this saga ...for all who have unfinished epic poetry running down the pages ..this poem particularly captured my emotions jacob ...so sad :((
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, E.
j.

[Isabella Ivy]

An up close encounter with a breaking heart, very well documented and vividly felt. I.I.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, I.I.

j.

[Isabella Ivy]

It was my pleasure, entirely!

[Alfred Kukitz]

I once heard a voice in the letters of blue sinking, sinking into the tears of the ocean.

Great write!

Regards,
Al

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Al.
j.

[Nigel Newman]

Jacob Hi. One of the reviews here says your pain is palpable, and indeed that just about nails it. I confess I found the first half more accessible - I love the idea of Pulitzer-worthy see you later notes and then the lengthening stanzas of your epic poem while your departed lover's notes progressively shorten. I think what I like most, perhaps, is that your writing beguiles and beckons the reader to think. Often on WC I find things which are all there in front of you - some are really good and paint wonderful images, but with your work I can build the images for myself from your eloquent signposting ... if I need or want to. BRs Nigel

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Nigel.

j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

The pain and humiliation in this is palpable Jacob. It has a dark sadness running through it as the protagonist, helpless and dependent, seems a bystander in his own destiny. As always the metaphors bring colour, taste and emotion to the page. And yup many have put the toast down more than once...................................................

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights, John.
j.

[DIVYA]

Jacob...this poem is outstanding in its expression, pathos, wording, flow, everything! My heartiest compliments on this masterpiece.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, DIVYA..
j.

[Quinn]

Beautiful, lovely form to the poem. Very nicely written - well done.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Quinn...

j.