Stairway

Stairway

the archives come forward

a heart filled with attic dust

sneezes love on the walls of sorrow

as it peeks out

                       that little window

of grief, ascending to heaven

with only a candle flicker

to espouse the journey.

erin-cilberto

5/16/2021

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

So poignant this one Jacob. A heart filled with attic dust hurts. So many memories of the past stored there. The imagery of that candle flicker sticks. I have many who have taken that trip on the stairway to heaven. Never forgotten.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, we will never forget them...I hope my latest works aren't too depressing.
thank you for your words,
j.

[John the Baptist]

"Sneezes love on the wall of sorrow." That one is probably not going to win the Pulitzer for happy images. And that's the happiest one in the whole poem!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

damn, and here I thought that line was a shoe-in for the prize....oh well...I will try to get happier with my writes.
thank you, John.
j.

[Relic]

As though something stored away in the mind is too heavy to come to the light of day.

Nive one. I like the metaphor within this.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Relic,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

The end of life is nearing, memories dusted off, but still loved; a last peek out the small basement window of grief; in wait of the ascending journey to peace. Remarkable poem with poignant imagery.
Best
B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Betty,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

You're quite welcome J.

[Pete]

great analogy. there are lots of things stored in attics and going there to retrieve pieces of the past is a cobwebbed experience. i guess that's why we don't go up into them very often. the house i grew up in had pull down stairs in the ceiling to get into the attic. i could see a longing face pressed against the glass like a lost soul ... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, "a cobwebbed experience" for sure.
Thank you for your words, Pete.
yes, attics, interesting but often spooky.
ghosts maybe?
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

For some reason I picture an older woman in a faded wedding gown staring out an attic window wistfully thinking of that lost love ... waiting for her "candle" to flicker out so she can begin her new adventure.

Well done j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

OH, I like the picture you painted for me with your review. Thank you, Ted,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... an added note:
Roger’s sister Priscilla is a Mother of a son and daughter and a Grandmother of five grandchildren. She has suffered from heartbreak in Romance and now she will Dance 💃 in the Clouds of the hereafter... Your poem is a stone etched with tears. truly, Pat

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... I do not Cry easily in my later years... but your words do bring tears. Roger’s sister only 76 is in the last stages of lung cancer... She is on a Stairway where there will be no pain when she reaches her destination... She is an Artist 👩‍🎨 and a Novelist who has left her heart prints on this Earth. Prayer beads are in my Pocket over my Heart. With tears 😭 we will remain... Your poetry seems to reflect her struggle... Priscilla and Roger grew up in Staten Island... close to the hustle and bustle of Life as we know it. tenderly, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, she will dance in the hereafter...I am so sorry that my words brought tears, Pat...
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Jacob... we celebrate our life on this earth...
and tears can be beautiful and express our love for those who fly away. Your poetry brings Comfort as we think of our beloved Sister who breathed a Sigh and became a Spirit who loves to soar into Eternity...
just a few hours ago. We appreciate your gentle graceful words. tenderly, Pat

[Lorry]

I love when song titles spring to mind from words that haven't been heard in way too long. There is a light that never goes out by the smiths is becoming my latest earworm as we ehm, type...
My flame is now an ember glow of a wick that used to be. At least I think that's what she shouted as she slammed the door shut one last time 😊

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Lorry....slammed doors...always the words not said.
j.

[Melinda McQueen]

Love never goes away,
but remains a fli1cker in the soul.
A heartfelt write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your understanding words, Melinda,
j.