in my seventh life

in my seventh life

 

 

lived,

Miss Kelly boxing our ears

in second grade

 

and the park across the street

the subway exit opens its mouth

and my dad walks out

home from work

the New York life

left behind

 

Illinois happens

flatland

rude awakening

Suburbs arise everywhere

High School finds me

an Emily Dickinson Catholic

sitting in Church or evading it

like it were a dodge ball

 

and then south

the sixties

a draft, very cold and calculating

heavy textbooks

thinking outside the box for the first time

and then looking at it wondering why

I stayed in there so long

 

feeling the air twenty years later

more books, finally a goal

a Master at indecision

then a Masters of some language

I already should have known better than I did

 

Years passed by

flipping pizzas

trying to understand my past lives

my current decade with extra cheese

burning desire

 

and years from then to now

finally a comfortable position

guiding others

years of more books

this time assigning them

assigning myself to a reason

 

now the years pass by too quickly

I look back at then, I look back at now

 

I look back at the future

reading a book that blurs

words that slip away

my mind overwhelmed

 

still looking back

farther and farther

from those first five lives.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

10/24/23

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

i can relate to this. when I was young I didn't take my education seriously. now I spend a good amount of time regretting it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I was the same and it almost cost me getting into Grad school years removed from my undergrad.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

In your seventh life you have arrived. Comfortable with where you are. Content in whom you are. A fine teacher and poet. You have covered much ground. I would say a life of variety and well travelled. I enjoyed reading all the stages and the influences on your journey. The sixties, I found relatable. The time does pass by so quickly as we age, so true. You have more years ahead, doing what you love. Lots more books to add to your fabulous achievements so far. A detailed account. Loved it J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Chris...despite the pitfalls, the 60's was a pretty solid decade.
j.

[Rita L. Sev]

High School finds me
an Emily Dickinson Catholic
sitting in Church or evading it
like it were a dodge ball...

This is a part of the path where I find myself now. You always offer a relatable line. Exactly why I come to poems...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh my goodness, what a great surprise...so good to see you again Rita!
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Such a relatable poem for us oldies as we rue the passage of time. I love the way you take us through the decades and milestones you recognise as your life Jacob. You describe them is brilliant detail for the reader to chew over.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for relating to this, John...thought it may be too personal for anybody to get into it.read moreThank you for relating to this, John...thought it may be too personal for anybody to get into it.
j.

[Arundass TP]

Life classified into blocks and telling vivid stories of life experiences. Really a different poem. Loved understanding a new theme for expression. Good work 👍

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Arundass,
j.

[emmajoygreen]

What a poem, what a slip-sliding biography wrapped if more than fine phrases: ' and the park across the street -the subway exit opens its mouth - and my dad walks out.. '. 'thinking outside the box for the first time - and then looking at it wondering why - I stayed in there so long.. ' - ' years of more books - this time assigning them - assigning myself to a reason. '

Over the next seven lines you almost but not quite tie up the past with a point of arrival when perhaps, your mind is seeing life in a different way but still competing for maybe recognition of each part of an extremely full and and varied emotional and practical life. Forgive me for thanking you for saying as much as you have here - and in such fine, concise yet descriptive words, jacob: In some ways sad, in some ways a distinct path of ultimate fulfilling discovery, sir.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Such a smart review, em. Your analysis finds me reflecting on what I experienced and what I wrote about it, somewhat like I never saw any of these words before.
But then, the way I write that might be natural, since I am just conduit for the words and have no idea from where they come. Perhaps from the mouth of the subway? Ya Think?
Thank you for your words.
j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I also like that..."Silence isn't empty, it's full of answers"
If we listen hard enough? It is for sure.

[emmajoygreen]

That quote has really reached into me, still working out why! Best to accept a gift rather than criticize the packing1
As to your own comments (should have mentioned them first, forgive) From the mouth of the subway? I don't think it matters as long as they add meaning, jacob.. they are a gift from you to dear you!

[AYVID N]

The phases of life...Looked back upon, with sadness and fondness...The years of growth, of wonderment and discovery. I loved the way you described each phase.

I especially loved the sixties phase, where you discovered how to think outside the box. I think that is when you found yourself, the foundations were laid of your lasting legacy. your signature, your inimitable style. To me the Masters felt just like a formality as you were, by then, already on the way to greatness, degree or no degree.

Now guiding others, being an illustrious model for them, caring for them and what could be more fulfilling than that? Especially, in a subject and art you love.

"Look back at the future"... Gives it a kind of surreal feel...As if one can see everything, all at once, a panoramic view of the past, present and what is yet to be.

Dear friend, the book may blur and the words slip away, sometimes, but I hope and pray the seventh life stays strong , regardless of the years passing by.

Also smiled, picturing the little you having his ears boxed by Miss Kelly.

Thank you for this beyond beautiful memoir.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

She could really box ears...and I thought she hated me....then we moved from NY to Illinois, and that woman sent me postcards checking up on me until she died.
Surprised the hell out of me.
Thank you for your words,
And my ears are okay now...ha ha.
j.