what i always was

what i always was

 

 

 

i asked a streetwalker for a light

she took me where the hotel one

was a dim reflection

of whom I had become

 

dirty job, dirty pavement

shoes walking nowhere

weighed down by a life

balanced on some tightrope of involvement

 

strangers pass by the window

the outside is now silent

she and i love for a moment

 

i pay her her sustenance fee

i am sated

until i walk out of the room

 

and my shoes decide

the next direction

my worn-down soles

will shuffle to

as i look for someone

who's a match.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/25/23

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

My worn-down soles: my worn down soul? The journey life takes a man to find warmth is multi pronged, just as that street-walker accepts her lot for mere sustenance. No looking back - that's life. A mournful write yet illuminating to the nth degree.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, em,
j.

[emmajoygreen]

Merely an honest opinion, sir jacob.

[W. Barrett Munn]

I am so pleased how this turned out with the connection between the opening line and the last. A moving piece of writing.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, thanks for the suggestion...

j.

[Soren]

Got it Jacob. That was a hot one. They say where there is smoke there is fire. Loved the word play, it was kind of like foreplay.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Soren.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

A match and a light....very clever J. so I see an old man getting sucked into a tryst. (after asking for a light)
coming out dragging his old shoes, not sure where is going, but his worn down shoes point the way to a real match this time..
hope it's better than the last one!
Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Betty,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome J.
Best, B

[red93]

'Asking only workman's wages / I come looking for a job / But I get no offers / Just a come-on from the w****s on 7th Avenue...'

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there"
lie la lie lie la lie lie......
great song...thanks red,
j.

[red93]

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Perdition]

"balanced on some tightrope of involvement"...when you link all that potential staring you back in the rear view mirror, you always come to the same place but it's a miracle to do and go through the process. A great line J. ..begins with a light ands ends with a match and everything in-between seems to float on a smokey good page of pulp. I had to go through so many shoes after reading..laughed at the end cause..yep..all of it thinly balanced ...But hey..not a second left to lose right? Enjoyed!

[zainul]

Very small poem but embodies vast meaning.
I read several times and each time new dimensions unfolded.
Thank you Jacob for presenting a wonderful piece.

[M]

Sounds like a life that was lost in translation; seeking a certain pathway yet not knowing how to find it, so wandering through life going where the sneakers take you. A very clever opening about the streetwalkers and their red light affinity that extends so well to the poems conclusion. Sometimes just going where the shoes take us can lead to some wonderful experiences and hopefully we find that right match along the way. An impressive poem and a superb read.

[John the Baptist]

The upside of streetwalkers is the convenience. The downside is the crabs.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sound philosophy...
j.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Boom-drop mic, I mean match…because the light was blown away by the wind. A sad tale in b&w. And oh so gritty, perfect metaphor…of course sir Jacob. Haunting write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Annette,
j.