On Ophelia's Watch

On Ophelia's Watch

today will be tomorrow's yesterday

fluent hours stream pass

hands move 

the face changes

clocks aren't liars

but reflections on the water

can be whatever we prefer them 

to be

or

not to be.

erin-cilberto

9/28/19

Reviews

[VelvetPotato]

I liked the ambiguity of this poem. I think it is saying that time is fixed, measurable, unchanging... but what you make of the passage of time and how you view yourself age is totally subjective. Great piece!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Velvet.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

we can change those reflections if we all collectively set the courses right now if only we could agree upon the mandates and of the self those reflections are of our own making indeed squint one way to a reflection of beauty the other disdain its all matter of courses... well penned lines Jacob like the imagery and ideas in them

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Bunny.
j.

[R.E. Ray]

When I lived on the southeast coast of Georgia, I'd sit on the beach and watch the waves crash on the sand, reflecting on the ocean's immeasurable power, and no matter what happens in life, the tides change, the waves keep rolling. Time is man's means for measuring what we think is important (work schedules, events, meal time, etc.). It means nothing to nature, and when we accept what nature is, and our relative insignificance on this planet, we can truly enjoy it. Probably way off on the original intent, but a poem that makes me reflect.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i totally agree with your insightful reply, R.E.
thank you,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

I do agree Jacob.
"clocks aren't liars
but reflections on the water
can be whatever we prefer them
to be
or
not to be."
The above lines. So true and thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Jacob.

[NotUsinganymore]

Very nice. We can't ever change time, it's what you do in the moment. I've never heard of Ophelia though.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you Jung...and yes, it is what you do in the moment...Ophelia was a character in Hamlet, the play by Shakespeare...

[NotUsinganymore]

Thank you and interesting

[kentuck14]

J,
This is very Zen-like. What is the sound of one watch not ticking? Does time even have a face we can recognize?! I asked a scientist once how long does it take for a reflection in a mirror (or on the water) to reach the human eye. He was intrigued long enough to run a calculation to discover the reflection lives a millisecond behind us in time.
T

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a millisecond...wow...interesting...
thank you for your kind review, T.
j.

[DAH]

Time is a serial killer, and it should've been executed a long time ago.

Nicely played, jacob!

DAH

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, DAH,
j.

[DAH]

My pleasure!

[h d e rushin]

every clock is right at least one time a day. And it's exciting to be alive...I love the immortality of this write Jacob. it cries out and speaks in strong, sudden emotion. Clocks are metaphors for fidelity, the quality and state of being faithful/ and trustworthy......great ideas/ dana

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, dana...
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

Clocks are not liars ... they only tell time ... much like mirrors reflect the ages.

This reminds me of something I wrote many years ago ...

Yesterday has been and gone
today is in between
tomorrow just another day
I have never seen.

Funny though, instead of Shakespeare, I thought of the Band's song 'Ophelia".

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh yes, The Band...thank you for your words and the smile, Ted,
j.

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

Oh what joy we find in imagery. We ponder the reflection of the morphing muse, to find our self, between the lines.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so true..thank you, Valormore,
j.