retire meant

retire meant

genius

I read other poets

and hallucinate myself

writing like they

I inhabit a page

paying meager rent

and fixing up a few images

that need repair

but When I see houses

they build with their carefully chosen

expression

their carpenter's thesaurus

I wonder when my lights will go out

as creativity no longer can pay the bills

with my blue collar words

simplistic, mundane applications

the genre has no compensation

for a mind gone cold

when the worn out bones

of poetry start to crack

genius

teases

then eases me

into assisted phrasing.

erin-cilberto

5/5/23

Reviews

[Lorry]

Yes Jacob, all our pages are rented and we gotta all pay those bills.
Writing like they, those other genius poets is the highest form of flattery anyone can give. And even they would have learned their experience from writing by who inspired them.
Inspiration is the most magical of thoughts, creating new from others old, and who know where that journey ends. It may just keep on inspiring others. 😊

[jacob erin-cilberto]

That is why I love this site...Other poets here....
stir my creative juices.
j.

[duff]

I really enjoy your writing. i tip my hat.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, duff...
I appreciate your support...
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

well if you're cracked up... I must be dead already I wish someone would have told me I wouldn't have payed my credit card bill this month

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ha ha...thanks, brother bunny...oh it's just plastic anyway.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

LOL, I should have also mentioned that this poem is the very definition of clever!

[W. Barrett Munn]

"assisted phrasing" is a treasure in its own right. I read, too, and wonder how the heck did they think of that, those words, or those comparisons? Doesn't keep me from swinging for the fences, just makes me realize I am most likely not Hank Aaron, more like Marvelous Marv Throneberry.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Marvelous Marv, backup first baseman to Moose Skowran...and couldn't hit a lick...I think they sent him back to the Athletics...
yes, we keep swinging for those fences wondering which one we will be.
j.

[willweb]

I think I could have written something like this after reading your poetry...oh to write like you but then if I did and everyone did, you wouldn't be you so I say we allow ourselves to be ourselves and maybe steal an idea or two every now and then. You are one of my faves and one of the faves of the site. Keep building and we will keep visiting

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are very kind with your review, will...
thank you,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

I wonder sir Jacob, even if we retire, that creativity retires or it just goes into hibernation stage. I know yours is as powerful as ever; no signs of aging at all. I love your usage of "blue collar words."
You are awesome!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, Sami,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome sir Jacob.

[The_Ancient_Rock]

Yeah... it wasn't poetry I was talking about... retiring...

Something... completely different indeed.

Poets and poetry...

Some have styles more or less close... others completely different...

We all have influences... people, life... environment... Things that are influential...

The only way to stop all that... would be to live like some hermit... completely isolated from the whole world... Not really possible...

And some times... things happen in one's life that are so powerful that makes us take a whole new life direction... changing things forever and ever...

Some people may think that themselves alone is what matters most in life...

Never been much of a narcissist so in love with myself... Even though yes...

I'm a bit of a Hedonist. I rather pleasure than pain... any day. When there is a choice... of course.

However there were and are others that to me matter more than my life... and they always will.

It's not odd... or I don't find so odd... that a parent loves their child and puts the child first... even above is own life... if necessary to do so...

I do find odd the astonishing level of pure selfishness that certain "Humans" have become indeed...

Certain things in this life... matter way more... than our own single stupid lives.

And you should all really realize such a thing... It's true and real.

Anyway I'm just writing about whatever I want... so sorry... if you happen to dislike my humble review...

Peace!!!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

It is your reaction to the piece, and I appreciate that.
j.

[The_Ancient_Rock]

Thank you!

;)

[John the Baptist]

Loved the play on words in the last lines. It's not helpful to compare oneself negatively with others. Some of those other poets were as mad as hatters and ended up destroying themselves, in addition to making those around them miserable. As evidence, I submit Dylan Thomas.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, I think Dylan lived on "Positively 13th street" about 9 blocks removed from Bob Dylan's 4th street.
Crazy part of town.
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

One car retire from a job and choose another way to survive ... but a writer, now that's another story, I don't think we ever retire. Not until they pry the pen out of our cold dead fingers.

Your writing would never be considered simplistic or mundane Jacob The page you inhabit is the lead-off that inspires us to move forward. Keep going.

P.S.
Finishing up my last assignment so should be back to these pages shortly.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

We will be so glad to have you back as a regular, Ted.
Miss your presence here.
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Poetry is like no other writing endeavor.
It seems a poet plucks (from thin air) moods, feelings and intent. Concentrating them into an instant elixir and you, my friend are a master at it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think not...but thank you for the kind words, Cherrie.
j.