When the Mystery of Life Ends

When the Mystery of Life Ends

 

 

goodnight Emma

he spoke softly,

lit the candle,

opened his book

and started to read his last rites

 

she kissed his cheek

and turned away in a cloud of unease

 

in restless arrangement

the moon and time shone through the blinds

a peek of light,

a ghostly voyeur...

 

goodnight Emma,

whispered softly in her ear

she smiled,

 

woke as the sun saluted solemnly

and she knew

 

she turned and saw the candle

burned to a little wax mound

much like the disturbance in a graveyard

 

the book fallen to the floor

his glasses in crooked farewell

 

goodnight Emma

she knew then,

she was his book mark,

and as she fell from his pages

 

his story had reached its conclusion.

 

 

erin-cilberto

8/16/19

Reviews

[Christoph]

Very effective. Maybe a little overlong for what you're conveying, but that's the kind of criticism you offer when you can't find much to pick at.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your constructive review, Christoph...appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
j.

[Lorry]

These words just flow Jacob. From first to last, these are words spoken so softly from the heart, with nothing else but two people sharing one last moment together, as it always was.
Who needs to shout when whispers just add to the intimacy of the moment?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Lorry,
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

For some reason, j. this strikes me as an older woman looking back after her husband has passed. The items named…candle...book...glasses are as he left them. She cannot bear cleaning up and putting those reminders away as that would spell finis to their love.
Actually a very good love story, no matter how you read it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and i really like how you read it, Ted....
thank you for your words,
j.

[Relic]

The sadness is bookmarked by me on this one, Jacob. Sickness, old age...that's up to the reader to decide. And they'll decide according to their own experience. Leaving things a little vague in poetry is a skill I've yet to obtain.

Good one.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Relic,
j.

[kitty]

Full of speculation as to how we take this poem. Love it! A sadness creeps in and then the reality hits you. Thanks for sharing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, kitty,
j.

[kitty]

My pleasure!

[Lydia Shutter]

Such an eerie feel to this one and yet strangely romantic at the same time. Did the book close because he died or did the book close because the relationship was over? I wonder. There is an intimate feel to the relationship between Emma and the man. So intriguing, Jacob. A little early for Halloween, but it leaves me feeling spooky.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Lydi...not sure where this came from...it was just all of a sudden, there.
j.

[redzone]

I love this poem Jacob... it seems softly sentimental and loving as it falls easily as I read it... there is both a sadness (that the "book" closes) and a feel of, the thrill you get from such a sharing relationship.... I put this one in my top ten poems from you Jacob...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Curt,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

This is a different style of writing from you Jacob. It is poignant to read. It's conclusion sad and a reminder that in partnerships, that is exactly what can happen. Full of beautiful imagery and the fallen book and crooked glasses heartbreaking for her. She was indeed his bookmark. Excellent poem.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Chris,
j.

[andrew mitchell]

Very well written J and like the closing of a chapter, he passed away peacefully.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, andrew,
j.

[Mark Mendoza]

This is a tasty narrative peice j. It was an old English day, and time had come to the grand event of death. What a beautiful ending, where new stories will be written in respect to the original tale. The scenery in the writing is thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks for sharing man.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Mark,
j.