invitation

invitation

after the worms dine

the bones of the hostess

are left to the strangers

waiting outside the two-story coffin

upstairs the sun roof sees the darkness of souls

and the relegated soil to cover it up

first floor she lies awake

thinking of how she flirted with the coroner

but he was too busy examining her bounties

to worry about taxing his heart

by engaging her

chloroform poems emerged from her veins

before the suture made her rain red

expository, exploratory

but he missed her heart

which beat, undulating beneath his hands

now she is throwing a party in his honor

except for the crawling guests

the little space for entertaining is quite empty

and the man of appalling occupation

never had the courtesy

to R.S.V.P.....

erin-cilberto

12/1/19

Reviews

[Jimmy Yetts]

Obscure enough to foster many scenarios.
There are so many men "of appalling occupation."
One that comes to mind is Congressman Adam Schiff--
the incessant liar who carries a coffin of endlessly
fabricated stories in his vain attempt to bury
both a duly-elected President and a nation.
You are as skilled a poet as any.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your interpretation and your very kind words, Jimmy....
j.

[Nefertiti Virtudes Ahme..]

Wow. Wow. Wow.
I absolutely love this! Strong imagery is best fit to describe this. I love that darker notes as well. Even the subtle plot twist in the end. You grabbed the readers attention by allowing us to read between the lines. This is fantastic, kudos.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Nefertiti,
j.

[kitty]

Puts you in view of the mortition who alone knows the secrets of his trade. Your words bring meaning to a state of the afterlife that no one chooses to embrace. A striking piece. Thanks for the insight.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, kitty,
j.

[kitty]

My pleasure!

[barleygirl]

I started out reading this as how others may chew us up & spit us out (distorted late-life examinations), but then (political backwash drenches everything these days) I saw the current NATO mashup where so many so-called leaders act like they're in grade-school with wormy squirmy hot mic tittering (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

even if that was not my motive...i like how you saw the politics in this...and yes, as Hamlet would say..the "politic worms eating at him"---

works for me..
j.

[DIVYA]

"but he was too busy examining her bounties
to worry about taxing his heart
by engaging her"

"but he missed her heart
which beat, undulating beneath his hands"

"and the man of appalling occupation
never had the courtesy
to R.S.V.P....."

There are people like that, carnal and callous, who they leave nothing but rot and worm-eaten bones in their wake. They wouldn't be caught dead listening to heart beats. I relate well to this in my own way, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, yes yes...thank you for your words, and astute insights, DIVYA,
j.

[emmajoy]

Second reading, tried early Tuesday morning.. just couldn't decide what and why. Still not sure.. but not disappointed at that, one needs to think to make sense of someone's thinking at times. Can guess your words refer to a woman's death and its aftermath. Perhaps she's been murdered, and in her next stage of life, is wanting her killer to suffer the same fate? The language you're using is very visual, creepy, out ofthe norm .. need to think more.. but perhaps not during the dark. Will return.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like this avenue, as well...
i am really enjoying the responses to this one.
thank you, em,
j.

[Dave Brown]

I'm thinking this should have aired on Halloween
Like the worms/bones association
I am surprised both man and worm missed the heart

What are you smoking?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

just high on life and poetry...thanks, Dave.
j.

[Linda alexander]

The lady who dies was a cheater perhaps in life and died in relation to her behavior which is sad. The lady even at post mortem time busy engaging herself flirting with the investigator who tries to analyze her cause of death but has no idea about her disposition of heart and she is very glad he missed that part. She is hosting a party for him after her death and invites him as he missed her heart. Wow ! this is a real piece of chloroform imagination. Great poetry indeed.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really appreciate your kind review, Linda...
thank you,
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

well....... c'mon in ... really Poe like for me ... this dark two story coffin ... his disengaged engagement ..
".. the sun roof sees the darkness of souls" ... love it! ... the Bible says that when Adam and Eve sinned .. they tried to hide and cover up right away .. having afflicted upon themselves the knowledge of good and evil ... pity we can come to the light .. only to run back into the cave to hide .. "chloroform poems emerged from her veins" ...sheesh jacob! i think this is just loaded with powerful imaging ...she must have scared him off eh!? ... after all his explorations .. misses the heart completely ... but she is not innocent .. chloroform poems from her veins indeed .. the allegory lays hidden from me ... but for me.... understanding the most fair of sexes will forever be the same ;}
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i am no Poe...but guess i had kind of a Poe moment...
I always like to imagine writing from his perspective...i really appreciate your insights into this mess, my friend.
i should be chloroformed before trying to write, sometimes.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ......................

[Chris Shaw]

I am unsure of the meaning here Jacob, but some very strong imagery is coming through of a grave. A woman being the occupant, who appears to be awaiting the arrival of another. An invitation sent but not acknowledged. I am inquisitive and want to know who the man of appalling occupation is. "Chloroform poems emerge from her veins". We must be talking about a poet's death here. There is a darkness, a touch of the sinister. Your lines are giving me imagery and feeling and yet I can't complete the jigsaw. There is a piece missing. I will return to read again later.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Chris....figuratively the man of the appalling occupation is the coroner...but maybe he's not that at all.
hope you find the missing piece for your own interpretation to jell...
thanks again for your words.
j.