in the old west near City Light books

in the old west near City Lights books

 

 

the posse arrives to arrest

the poet

word-slinging outlaw

 

robbed a poem bank

stole then plagiarized

all the notes from the safe

 

witnesses lingered in the cafe

afterword 

to preface the arrest

and semantically attend the trial

 

when the sentence was pronounced

it needed much editing

 

someone forgot the semi-colon

in the verdict

and revision was shot down in the street

 

leaving sarcastic lines

crying

for the loss of inspiration

 

we all felt with tear stained

trigger fingers.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/30/19

Reviews

[gram linski]

great idea for a poem, might have to nick it, lol, City Lights and their patrons would be proud to have this on their shelves,

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, gram, i appreciate you saying that.
j.

[sL]

So often you manage to sling words I wish I had written. Though it often feels like there is, you’re proof that there isn’t a total loss of inspiration. It’s an interesting role to play—the outlaw and the witness. Love this poem.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

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

[Crowley]

That is my favorite book store of all time. If it were me, I would have went to Vesuvio grabbed a beer and waited for the posse. Once they came I would have hurled adverbs, bad grammar and lousy punctuation at them then faded into the beat museum to be forgotten forever. I think you read my piece called Notes on Grant and Green, I just love that area and the history. Can you tell I loved this piece?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

adverbs could really hurt....ouch.

yes, i remember Notes on Grant....we talked about those beat poets...and Kerouac ...
i appreciate that you like this write...
that stream of consciousness, free verse poetry at which the purists were enraged.
thanks, Crowley..
j.

[Crowley]

Each time I go to San Fran I do get inspired. I have quite a few written while I was there. Great City, couldn’t live there.

[DIVYA]

And in the trial, who is really really qualified to be the judge? I’m still thinking about it. I really enjoyed this poem, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, DIVYA,
j.

[Dave Brown]

I have always loved westerns and this is no exception.
I put this (for me) at the top of your poetic inspirations
Very enjoyable

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Dave, glad you enjoyed it.
j.

[Eilis]

I just read this Ferlinghetti quote:

If you would be a poet, create works capable of answering the challenge of

apocalyptic times, even if this meaning sounds apocalyptic.

You are Whitman, you are Poe, you are Mark Twain, you are Emily Dickinson and Edna St. Vincent Millay, you are Neruda and Mayakovsky and Pasolini, you are an American or a non-American, you can conquer the conquerors with words.

And thought this perfectly suited your poem. The idea that we are all working off of each other. Time having come so far. At this point, we are in a sort of state of recycling ideas. Is this good or bad? I think it depends on our perspective.

Of course, there's more to your poem than that. I think of it as the drive toward perfection and also the missing of the heart of something in the quest for a pinnacle. To be a visionary or pioneer as Ferlinghetti is, there's a certain responsibility, but also, a lot of people will follow after you. Are you generous enough to allow what you have become be shared amongst the heritage and advance the art you love. I feel like he is. I feel like you are that kind of poet as well.

But, we live in a world of ownership, so, things are defined in different ways. And everyone feels qualified to weigh in on what is right or wrong for others. I don't know. I've probably created a whole new meaning here, but that's where your poem took me, Jacob. I always enjoy reading what you're working on.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

any quote from Ferlinghetti...it is sound wisdom...love his poetry...and he is 101 now...or close...was born the same year as my father...(who almost reached 98)
1919....yes words can conquer the world...emily dickinson once said..."words have the power to heal but also the power to kill."

thank you for sharing the quote and for sharing how you related to this poem...
new meanings are just great...i think it is why many of us write...not only to figure ourselves out...but also to get help from readers in doing that.
j.

[Doodley]

I am assuming this is strictly metaphorical and no actual stealing and plagiarising was committed? If so, this is a fabulous poetic play on the Wild West, Jacob!

Witnesses lingered in the cafe.....hmmm...that is an interesting line. There is a fine line between stealing and plagiarising from the poem bank and taking out a loan. I am sure we have all borrowed a word or two when our poetic account is empty.

This is another fine write full of excellent metaphors of a literary nature. Love the Wild West theme in this one. Very original as always, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

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