another casualty

another casualty

 

 

"this writing is currently unpublished"

so you are NOT reading these words

the imagined print you see

is a handprint on a slapped face

hidden by a mask of insane dexterity

 

we walk to the bookstore

distancing the shelves six feet apart

the books too intimate to be safe to read

so why are you?

 

Poetry has been evicted

a genre scorned

abused

antagonized

the fine print less than lousy

 

my feelings got too close to me

I had to let them go

wasn't medically safe

to keep them in such proximity to my heart

although the pen has been vaccinated

 

this poem you think you are reading

I was too scared to write it

I just thought it

now it is short of breath

even the front-line poets can't save it.

 

 

erin-cilberto

5/7/2021

Reviews

[Miss Sharon]

(this poem you think you are reading I was too scared to write it I just thought it now it is short of breath even the front-line poets can't save it.) In my humble opinion, it needs not to be "saved" but to be read, pondered upon and savored...as per your forte Jacob my friend. ~Sharon

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Sharon,
j.

[Ruth]

Blimey - with the merging of the current state of the world and the emotions of self woven together here, one felt such impact - the light both internally and externally is a hard one to keep aflame, takes conviction and faith and faith seems so fragile to so many of late, beautifully rendered Jacob...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind and insightful words, Ruth,
j.

[John the Baptist]

Damn, I hate hallucinating! Poetry is indeed a red headed stepchild now. It used to have high standing; People like Byron were like rock stars in their day. Now people think "The Wasteland" is the name of a landfill.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that is too funny about "The Wasteland" but unfortunately true.
thank you, John,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

What a year it has been. Apart from the virus, so much more going on. Free speech being attacked, democracy under threat. Social distancing being ignored and anti vaxers. It makes you wonder how long it will take to return to the norm as we knew it. Economies busted, we are in for a long stretch. Hopefully not in isolation. What will the new normal be, I wonder? This account is like reading Sci fi. At times I felt as though I was a bit part actor in a film. We won't be safe until the until the whole world is vaccinated. Poor countries must be helped.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, it will be stopped when we all help each other and follow the rules of safety.
thank you, Chris,
j.

[Paul Bell]

I suppose we've survived the worse year of our lives, some may laugh and say your parents survived 6 bloody years. This will take years to recover though the rich countries will stride ahead leaving the poor countries who were already on their last legs totally in the ground.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, the rich countries will do that...
somber but true words, Paul.
thank you,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

WHAT A CHILLING ACCOUNT OF WHAT THIS PANDEMIC IS DOING TO HUYMAN NATURE.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Cowboy...the words hurt to write.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... like being on the front line of a War where Medics can and will “save” you... Pillows of stormy clouds pass over Lillies of the Field... we Cherish your Work. truly, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Pat,
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

the fear has to be faced and walked on through .. we can certainly have our schools opened back up .. we can shake hands .. we should always stay home when sick .. wash out hands .. keep them away from our faces ... time long past to throw the masks away in my opinion .. that is my first thought on this one .. its the second poem of my morning and the second one with a slap to the face in it. ;) I think I am going to be a little more careful out there in the world today ... :)))
"the books too intimate to be safe to read
so why are you?" hmmmm challenging question ... with the added distancing of the "shelves" ..makes the intimacy more alluring perhaps .. hmmmmmm going to be thinking about that one my friend! V4 L5 is another great line for me .. vivid piercing metaphors that are beyond me ... but i love the lines .. its a hard time for intimacy .. a hard time to express things with stuff like FB and all the vitriol in political so called "discussions" ... the closing is understandably bleak ... we have had how many millennia to "get it right" ... since the beginning i guess.
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really appreciate your extensive reviews, E. and apologize that mine to your works fail miserably in comparison...
j.

[emmajoy]

Rubbish! Not having that, you need some fighting talk, sir. When I can write the words you do, will disagree with you.. til then.. hugs.

[Einstein Noodle]

oh man ... i get carried away in the mornings .. i love trying to see everything poets are saying .. it keeps my mind actively pursuing understanding metaphor and abstract .. its worth the effort .. and I get wordy ... i understand you reviews, jacob and am grateful for them and your eyeball on me "stuff" ..and the time you take to read and let me know... luv on ya brother! peace and joy! ..plus i was captivated by this one ... there is a lot of emotion going on in it as well. you speak many times in terms of being a poet .. how it is to strive, and fail and be disappointed with ourselves .. suffer agonizing dry spells etc. etc. it all reall man! all good!

[emmajoy]

How I understand the frustration of being so near yet so far to words, to people, to logic or love, j.

However, those words can mean seconds thoughts. How to word or act this or that without hurting or offending self or others. Most people involved with/in writing AND people, must know how easy it is to move into unknown territory and thereafter be made to feel guilty.

Your writing, as always. opens channels of thought.. and in a way, 'wonderment' that a noticed phrase can set your mind reaching into other corners: '.. we walk to the bookstore - distancing the shelves six feet apart - the books too intimate to be safe to read - so why are you? '

Whether we appreciate your pandemic awareness of literary human behaviour, surely we can try to understand that we all have to pause... at times.. often!. Your writing is a thrill or warning, sir.. beware of subtitles!!!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you so much for your words here, em.
I like how you respond to poems on this site...you take what you are given in words and lines and then run with your own philosophies and mix the two so deftly.
j.

[emmajoy]

Smiling, I try but - very often fail. Many thank yous, dear sir. Cooking, must go watch this and that.. tarrah! :)

[Neville]

............... so very much of the moment .. your words here made me gasp a little as I struggled to take them all in, in a single silent breath .. sometimes, these days, it feels like I am surrounded by victims and casualties ... maybe just goes to show that some things never change .........

Neville

[jacob erin-cilberto]

two breaths would work, Neville...
I turn blue writing this crap sometimes, myself.
I thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
j.