like unknown soldiers

like unknown soldiers

 

 

feedback leaves

left un-raked

unidentified

colors absorbed

in wet autumns

 

the epiphany of mortality's flight

there are no answers,

 

only questions burning

with the fall smoke

 

we all fall down, eventually

some without a word spoken

then lie there uncomfortably

 

wishing we had been found

among those who could have

identified us as evolving

from a certain tree.

 

 

erin-cilberto

9/15/15

Reviews

[Jimmy Yetts]

The unknown heroes are, of course, due a special place--though, sadly, only a generically collective place.
Every human being inherits a guesswork past; bequeathing severely temporal memories.
Ultimately, Life's Unknown Soldiers, all.
Outstanding piece of work!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Jimmy.
j.

[h d e rushin]

even those who died without the knowledge of death, did so without any essential knowledge
of purpose. Those who died at Pickett's Charge or Gettysburg, Normandy or Iwo Jima,
Laos or Hanoi left a legacy to humanity not a reason for their circumstance. Yet Autumn,
Veterans Day, the smoke that rises from the ashes of burning leaves; nothing holds our
prejudice in the face of sacrifice....And nothing shall.

tremendous write dear brother....dana

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, dana.
j.

[rubie]

unknown soldiers are like so many things...

but i see them as representatives of the fallen martyrs. they are nameless for a reason....if we knew their names, we would be unable to see them as metaphors for all fallen soldiers.

likewise, we each stumble and fall at some point, and we become anonymous when no one comes to help us back up....

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, rubie.

j.

[Beccy]

My pleasure, reading your work is always, without exception, a genuine intellectual delight.

Beccy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Beccy.

j.

[Beccy]

Yes, we do indeed all fall down eventually; just in the same way as a lost opportunity remains lost.

As for answers, we must of course first ask the question; but all too often the complex task of simply living life gets in the way.

Beccy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful reply, Beccy.

j.

[Wraith.]

Like leaves trodden into the pavements, mass graves and then swept under winters carpet.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your comment, Wraith.

j.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I don't know why, Jacob, but I keep reading and re-reading this one and the overwhelming feeling I get is that you are deliberately trying to capture the imagery of autumn leaves falling from the trees. That sense almost eclipses the powerful intention of your title the unknown soldier. You've woven a very sensory, powerful poem, about a truly important topic. Thank you, Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your really kind words, Anne.

j.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I'm sorry, Jacob. My brain was obviously turned 'off' last night. Fallen soldiers falling like leaves off an autumn tree, nameless, unknown, countless due to the sheer number, looking for their family tree to give them a name. How sad, yet powerful. Thank you.

[~]

In one of the cities we lived while I was growing up, there was a statue in honor of all the unknown soldiers that perished during WWI and WWII. To this day, the anonymity of those souls and the bravery that was never named ignites a sense of reverence and awe inside of me.
There are things, we do, we say, and we BE that others will never know. Yet, continuing with those deeds is the best we can do I believe.
.. loved the thoughts it took me..

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, moonskittles....your response touched me.

[marcus]

what an amazing image you've created here Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, marcus.

j.

[gabrielle]

This is beautifully written jacob. The piece reminded me of some individuals who sacrificed a lot for the welfare of the family but later on neglected in their twilight years.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, gabrielle.

j.