even in the youngest terms

even in the youngest terms

 

 

the impetuous girl

writing on her lap

scrapbook, notebook

poem book

scribblings of leaves

of boys

leaving her

of wild nights

lanterns lit in tents

with seductive glow

 

and then

a choice

cornered

she must decide

let them live

or burn the book

so no one will ever notice

she was once pregnant

with inspiration

 

but felt she was too young

to manifest

a talent which no one

would understand.

 

 

erin-cilberto

1/7/23

Reviews

[Trey Jakosalem]

I love how, to me, this is chaotic. As if time is catching up to her, and so she is torn about what to do. And so, to write, or not to write... that is the question, I suppose.

[Nisreen]

So sweet
The innocence of being female
And that dark seductive spirit of the male spirit
A female with a little girl within decides can she come out of her shell so he sees her
And all her talents come to light
She ponders

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really appreciate this perspective of the piece, Nooni,
thank you.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

I read this as a girl full of ideas,dreams, ambitions and inspirations only to be shot down in flames because no one had any wish to share her goals or were just plain ignorant through a lack of understanding.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and that was what she was...thank you, andrew,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

How sad. This seems to be a story of a promiscuous young girl who ends up
pregnant. That is a heavy responsibility for her to carry and is probably very frightening at such a young age. Birth control does help.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Chris,
j.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I read this in two ways: the first, on the surface, a young lady who is pregnant; the second, purely from the perspective of a poet. I used to keep a diary after I had run away from home at 15 and ended up in Manhattan. I came home from school one day; and my mother's boyfriend was coming out of my bedroom, with diary in hand, reading it out loud and laughing. My mother listened and said not a single word. I was so mortified that I burned the diary. After that is when I turned to writing poetry. I felt like I could say what I wanted to say in meaningful poetic words that he would never understand if read again. I could, at once, both express myself and keep the truth buried between the lines. I like the duality of this poem and the multiple interpretations one can have based upon his/her experience. Great job!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

How could she? Letting him read that...shame on both of them.
Thank you for your insightful review here, Linda,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Quite the story, Jacob. Is this the story of Virginia Woolf or a youthful Emily? The per cursor of Little Women or the prequel of The Scarlet Letter? Whatever, it is a neat read.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate your words, Winston,
j.

[Throwing Romeo]

Vapers of innocents
threatened by the very
candlelight confessions
poets dare breathe.

Shoeless masterpiece.

R.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Romeo,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

It’s so disheartening and confusing to a young girl to be pregnant….we don’t know what she writes in her journals, but I’m sure it’s a mixture is sadness and joy at the same time….. and who should she tell? Maybe no one right now, because of very negative implications …..it’s her secret….does she know who impregnated her…is she in puppy love?….what should she do with her journal? Will someone find it? Understand her emotions? She seem to be quite provocative for her age with many boyfriends…more mature than her social equals…..who would understand her?
Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights, Betty,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

you're very welcome J.
Best. B