the sole of a man

the sole of a man

 

 

the old man's shoes

a fleeced cloud as runway

tears of a journey's end

a life untied

 

tripping over laced dialogue

forgetting the steps

he put his shoes to rest

 

and followed soon after

falling asleep

shoes next to the bed

 

standing at attention

as are our memories of him.

 

 

erin-cilberto

7/1/22

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

What a metaphor here J.in this write. You are surely King where they are concerned. No one can match you by a long shot.

Your final couplet blew me away

standing at attention
as are our memories of him

I saw those shoes clearly by his bedside.

I liked the play on words here sole/soul here. Very meaningful.

This reader feels there was apprehension, perhaps even fear of him when you were young. There was inflexibility in his thinking. Rigid in his outlook. That must have created much tension in the family. I see you as a young boy. Totally misunderstood. That must have been tough.

You say so much in this short poem, and I feel you.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Chris,
j.

[Red Brick Keshner]

Again, where is the like and heart buttons on this site! The singular enveloping symbol of shoe and life is flooring. Pardon the pun, not. There is something about old shoes like a time tested companion, that to even have them at the bedside. These days shoes are left in the mudroom, disinfected for reuse or simply replaced. Could that be in itself an extended metaphor for how our soul can be so easily discarded these days? Thanks, j. This poem shall accompany my in my ever dwindling remaining years. /Frederick.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind and understanding words, Frederick,
j.