Pandemic Song

Pandemic Song

 

 

 

where have all the love poems gone

gone to poetic graveyards everywhere

 

political pandemic

when will it ever end

oh when will it ever end

 

used to write of kisses galore

but social distance makes that a "no more"

 

dying counsel

lovers meet separate therapists

wearing masks to cover feelings

 

poets explode

where have all the love poems gone

gone with poets everywhere

 

writing is hard

when we can't breathe

in the words

 

or breathe out the words

when will it ever end

 

the shovels are confiscated

and I can only dig you

 

from a keyboard's point of view

that's where all the love poems have gone.

gone to the white sheets

 

everywhere

anywhere

somewhere the flowers at last

burst

into verse. 

 

 

erin-cilberto

12/8/2020

Reviews

[Patricia]

It’s hard to feel the love when we can’t go out and experience it. I miss people watching and writing about their love. This is really good and I think about that too

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind reveiw, Pat,
j.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"from a keyboard's point of view
that's where all the love poems have gone.
gone to the white sheets"
"Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing..." J., you have captured the sadness and imagery of this iconic song in the lyrical lines of your important, timely and so relevant poem. War and pestilence-much the same. I mourn with you for the loss of so many, so many from all walks of life, poets quieted. The world's grief in your words is palpable. But I hope against hope, as you so poignantly say, (that perhaps with advent of vaccine and wise use of survival skills),
"everywhere
anywhere
somewhere the flowers at last
burst
into verse."

Amen to your words. Stay safe and well my friend.:))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am hopeful...thank you for your kind review, Annette.
j.

[VJWild]

Baaahhhh isn’t this all so very true!! Love it!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, VJ.
j.

[John the Baptist]

It's not hard to tell whether or not someone lived through the 60's. This one was inspired by "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" a popular anti-war ballad of that era. Here, another war is the subject: the pandemic and its attendant miseries. "When will it ever end?" is an echo of "When will they ever learn?" The difficulties of this time are mentioned, but there is some reprieve at the end. The pain will be transmuted at last into love poems. Thus can tragedy become transcendence.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your insightful and understanding review...
Yes, inspired by that wonderful song...I am partial to the Peter, Paul and Mary version....
Peter was at my school one day...at Logan...I got to meet him...he talked to a few of us after he sang some songs. What a wonderful guy...
This was back in the nineties...
j.

[LazerRays]

Whatever happened to the regular life, with new times come new poetry. I do miss the old ways. Where are the love poems? I would love to know

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Saree, for your words...I would love to know as well.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Peter, Paul and Mary. Liked that song so much. The pandemic is not conduisive with loving. All masked up and at a distance. Just think when it:s over and the vaccines have worked. I bet there is an explosion of loving and the birth rate goes up instead of the death rate. Bring it on.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh wow, I bet you are right...the birth rate will skyrocket...ah like the song..."skyrockets in flight, afternoon delight"
thanks for the smile Chris...needed that.
j.

[Stella Armour]

well yes, the love poems are stifled ( at last some might say).
Now we wordsmiths have the challenge of new ways to express ourselves without being unmasked so to speak .
Love the song, it filled the white sheets with invisible kisses :))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, it did do that, didn't it?
Thank you, Stella,
j.

[barleygirl]

Killer phrase: "and I can only dig you from a keyboard's point of view" . . . great job of spoofing this old familiar tune which speaks of war, adapting to our endless waves of modern warfare. I still find it too weird that people are wearing facemasks as a regular part of life, even tho I agree with the need, and your poem hits home for me how incongruous this practice is with trying to thrive as a sentient being (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Your response is much better than the poem...
thank you for your insights...and Hank really likes your avatar...she meowed at it.
j.

[Remanence]

Your verse is a sad truth and most effective as our failed attempts to contain COVID-19 virus have cost so many their lives, their sanity and their joy. Truly, it cannot and never will end for those who grieve their loved ones lost. I am one, and I am honored by your remembrance, through this your Pandemic Song. Thank you Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am so sorry for your loss, and feel that something could have and should have been done so much sooner...this needed to be taken seriously and it wasn't...and so many lost lives later.
I just want to scream the words.
j.