Mentor

Mentor  

 

 

you taught me how to write

you taught me why to write

then your body betrayed you

i held the pen for you

then i held your mind for you

i tried to be the poet you imagined

i tried to assuage the pain 

you no longer felt

your lips barely moved

as you ended the poem

with your eyes transcribing

while i shakily scribbled

the last of you.

 

 

erin-cilberto

5/22/2021

Reviews

[h d e rushin]

poets are so very good to each other. But they mostly terrify others who think that we are to be found only in the ashes or the ruins of the civilizations our little doctrine's clamored to uplift. We are then the soap-makers of the 21st century who gather the fat's from the dead animals, boil and sift the renderings to make a more worthwhile substance. Everyone is our mentor to their last breath. Every hour is our challenge.....dana

[jacob erin-cilberto]

how true your words are, dana.
We terrify others, especially our family....we are like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters to them...

[Vertigo Cat1111]

This is so, so amazingly beautiful and emotional. Just wow. It's painfully heartbreaking and well-written, breathtaking, in fact. Whoever was your mentor, they taught you well, and it's obvious your putting your heart and soul into writing pieces like this. I think they'd be joyously proud! One of my favorite pieces of yours. Hauntingly memorable.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your very kind words, Colacat.
j.

[John the Baptist]

Some of us are fortunate enough to have mentors, and if they are the right kind, their passing will be felt like that of a family member. In this case, it may even have been a family member. The passing seems to have been a slow and painful one, with dementia complicating things. The best we can do is to be grateful for such people and to try to realize the promise they saw in us.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Definitely am grateful, John...if only she could have known how much.
j.

[Ruth]

To lose, to grieve, to love and to have to write on after the math divides connection - so sadly poignant dear Jacob...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Ruth,
j.

[Trey Jakosalem]

This feels like it tackles the theme of loss.
It, to me, leans more on the side of death.
However, it also seems vague enough to touch the hearts of those who have lost someone in other forms.
Thank you, for touching my heart with this.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Trey.
j.

[Gee]

And what a job they did :))
Good morning Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Good morning, my friend.
Yes she was a great influence in my life...her real end was ALS...and we had lost track of each other.
life gets in the way, they say...but death is a permanent barrier.
j.

[Gee]

And now you the mentor and guiding light :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that is very kind of you to say, Gee.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Haunting
Sad
Memories
Time lost
Time spent with her
Teaching

These are the thoughts it left me with
Beautiful write ✍️

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Julie.

j.

[Chris Shaw]

You carry her with you in every word you write. This tribute to her memory is full of love and gratitude for the inspiration she gave you. And how proud she would be to read her student now. What a gift she bestowed on you. Priceless.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Chris,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Always welcome