Rich Man, Poor Man

Rich Man, Poor Man

de-ice the refineries

shut off the engines in the garages

of the freezing mothers and children

doing a Plath "mouth in the sheet"

unintentionally,

carbon monoxide dreams

elevate them all to heaven

the lights of the skyscrapers 

an elusive rainbow

while the edges of the spider's web

weave darkness in disparaged hearts

interstates of jackknifed immunity

a warming globalizes into a deep chill

the blankets are soaked with the sweat

of frigid beads

the rosaries are frozen

in the dead hands

of the victims

of those in charge

who cannot create a charge

to unlock the dark grid

and divvy up the rainbow rain

among the imprisoned flies

with a warm breath to consolidate 

shivering lives into one mindset

one heart set

one.

erin-cilberto

2/19/2021

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

A very dystopian sound to this one. Also a condemnation of those in power, whose mistakes have led to situations where people are freezing for lack of electricity and are victims of climate change. Not sure of the symbolism of "rainbow rain," but indeed, a lot of people are hurting now

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, many are hurting...thank you for your words, John,
j.

[Christine Anne Shaw]

Brilliant write. People trying to keep warm when the electric has been out for days. Are you writing here about the big freeze in Texas and how that state has ground to a hal? I heard many had died of bitter cold. Your reference to Plath here inspiring. I see those people in garages trying to keep warm in their cars unaware of the danger they are in. The rosaries won't help them, who will? Hard hitting this one, more so because it is taking place now. Great work Jacob.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

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

[andrew mitchell]

How society relies on our utilities to all be working otherwise lives are in jeopardy be it a harsh winter or a bushfire summer. The perils of living are upon us in ways we have never seen before.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

absolutely, they are...andrew...they are.
j.

[Beccy]

One of my father's favourite sayings, which I well remember from a very early age, is, 'we'll all be in trouble when the shilling goes.' It's a reference to the days when domestic gas and electricity was only available through prepay meters, a shilling, (20 of them to the £,) being the only coin such meters accepted.

Rings as true in today's high dependency world, as it did when he first made mention; and your poem is a chilling reflection of the changing times and how easily what we take for granted can be gone in an instant.

That second stanza in particular really hits home.

Beccy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful review, Beccy....I always appreciate your visits.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

So terribly Sad... our great State of Texas gone Mad... with Freud figures and freezing hearts beating solemn Drums until Kingdom come. A Revelation Prediction of things to come. Mourning Moments. Hell is at Hand... across
the Land. Amen

[jacob erin-cilberto]

My folks lived seven years in Port Arthur back in the late seventies.
and I have some good friends there...makes me really sad that they are going through what they are.
thank you for your words,
j.