and then there were none

and then there were none

a little kid

in a tall city

weeps among the smoke

and debris

a father gone

in a crumbling exhibit

passersby pass by

with a tear in their hand

new structures emerge

but old hearts remember

day after day

cries blowing in an ashen wind.

erin-cilberto

5/14/2021

Reviews

[Ted Kniffen]

And yet, we forget and now take the side of the same terrorists who cause this destruction. We tend to forget I think that the Jews are God's chosen people and have survived every attempt to annihilate them.

Funny thing, I just finished reading of a seeing-eye dog that saved 972 people from the World Trade Center.

Good one j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

amazing dog...that is a really moving feat...they certainly are man's best friend.
thank you for sharing that, Ted,
j.

[light and ashes]

I love the title that you chose for this. Wasn't it also the title of an old black and white movie? The writing is enigmatic and great.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Probably was...I know that line stuck in my head for some reason...appreciate your words, light.
read moreProbably was...I know that line stuck in my head for some reason...appreciate your words, light.
j.

[light and ashes]

I believe it was...it was a mystery. I rather enjoyed it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Ah yes, thanks for the suggestion....I just watched it. It was from 1945..

I had seen three of the remakes, they were titled "Ten Little Indians" and were from 1964, 1965,
1987 and 1989...
the original "then there were none" was from 1945..and was the best of the lot. So thanks for reminding me of it.

[light and ashes]

You're welcome! :)

[Ken Simm.]

Melancholy almost dystopian in style but a true gem out of the dust. I see statues standing in the ruins?
Certainly parts of the world today.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Many statues...thank you for your words, Ken,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

Where are our Memories... Statues fallen ... but we still have sculptors who will mold our Poetry into our hearts and Mind ... tenderly, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

absolutely.....thank you, Pat,
j.

[Dave Brown]

In addition to our always changing landscape, the mid-east comes to mind, once again highlighting the ongoing stupidity of mankind with the innocent always suffering the most
'Blood Diamond' was an awfully shocking portrait of this sick mindset, with something like 200,000 child soldiers still on the loose, mindlessly murdering.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, mindless murder...in the name of a god who would cringe at the purpose and his name being used for such destruction.
thank you, Dave,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Not only did I think of 911 here J, I also pondered on the situation in Israel at the moment. Rockets destroying buildings. Falling like packs of cards. You can replace all the buildings in time, but the pain stays. That doesn't go. The pain lasts longer than the buildings do. Passed on from generation to generation. The slate isn't wiped clean. Great poem.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words...yes, was thinking back....but now surely is part of that.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

It’s amazing how time like a decade can change the demographics to the point , it’s all unrecognisable. Progress really does wipe the slate clean.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and we are fooled into believing it is progress.
thank you, andrew,
j.

[Lorry]

We still see the building that used to be and the sights and sounds ingrained in us, shocked at the latest new development that will no doubt be torn down in 20 years, just in time for the next generation to see what we're all saying, that everything changes but nothing does, other than change itself.
I dread to think what my old haunts will look like next time I see them, if I can find the once memorised place and it hasn't been gentrified, which I believe is the technical term for getting rid of us that lived it, to make way for those dumb enough to pay four times as much and shop in whole foods to gloss our denial.
Sorry to be so downbeat of a Saturday morn Jacob, but they are doing it bloody everywhere!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, almost everywhere...the last time I was in Vermont where I went as a kid, it basically all looked the same and that was 40 years later.
At least there still the same.
but not a lot of places, thank you, Lorry,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

If I'm reading with focus, I believe this is a re-enactment of the 911 tragedy; smoke filled city, ash all around, smoldering papers, parts of dear ones scattered, some beneath the rubble, a "crumbling "Exhibit" of buildings folding in on themselves, a slow motion panorama of chaos; years after the tragedy, new structures emerge, but survivors only remember what used to be; they see in their minds only destruction turning to nothing. Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it is still hard to get that out of my mind. Thank you for your understanding words, Betty,
j.