Somewhere in 1962

Somewhere in 1962

 

 

burning crosses in December yards,

morbid Christmas decorations

 

and White wreaths on the right doors

the moon hides, it's a black night for sledding

the presents are scattered diversions

for the hatred across towns

 

there are hanging trees

no holly, no embracing, peace on earth

not there,

not then

not when

 

people are wrapped up in their own bigotry

ribbons of judgment,

incontinence of slander

 

put an angel on top of the tree,

but make sure it looks like the snow outside

 

a blanket of purity

concealing the darkness underneath.

 

 

erin-cilberto

12/21/15

Reviews

[Beccy]

Jacob; Eighteen months or so ago, just prior to my son's eighth birthday, he and I made a list of his classmates and other children he wanted to invite to his party, I knew most of the names, but got stuck on a few, particularly a girl named Jessica, who I simply couldn't place.

'Jessica is pretty,' Charlie told me, 'and she likes me and has nice teeth, she's in year five.'

That was good enough for me, so out went the invite. On the day of the party, along came Jessica with her mum, a lovely child, her parent's originally from Barbados, but now living in the UK. How wonderful I thought that Charlie chose to describe the girl as having nice teeth; the colour of her skin clearly being entirely irrelevant to an innocent eight year old.

We have much to learn from our children and I can't help wondering how the world will be in 2062.

Beccy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i am somewhat afraid of what the world would be like in that year...but won't be around for it...read morei am somewhat afraid of what the world would be like in that year...but won't be around for it...

i really love your story, Beccy...it warms the soul...

j.

[Jimmy Yetts]

Somewhere in 2015, an African-American is President of the United States.
Many more men of color occupy influential seats in both Houses of Congress; Oprah, a black woman, is the richest female in the world; countless black sports and entertainment figures are well respected multi-millionaires. Mixed marriages are common and widely accepted. The majority of today's kids are practically color blind.
Of course, none of this changes what happened in the past--but, in 1962, most Americans of goodwill could never even have imagined these things would come to pass.
Meaningful poetry, Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and yet with all the progress we have made...there is still so much prejudice ....it's much more subtle...but still there...thank you for your words, Jimmy

j

[Misty.C]

What a sad poem. Well written, and filled with emotion. I liked it. Good job.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Misty.

j.

[Brittany Bostic]

I love this! I love the honesty of this poem. Even though we want Christmas to be a very happy time it depends on what is going as if we feel that way. Perhaps not everything goes our way all of the time. I really appreciate the darkness of this poem. However I hope you are having very happy holidays! :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Brittany....yes, having a good holiday..

[Donald Meikle]

We moved into our first house in 1962 The annual taxes on our house trailer were three times the taxes on the house. I worked over sixty hours a week that year. Bigotry we had no time for. Still don't.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Amen..thank you for your words, Donald.

j.

[annalysiar]

Symbolic and real great write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, annalysiar...

j.

[Einstein Noodle]

oh the bane of humanity's hypocrisy ... in its face no one can boast that snow ... well said jacob ..terrible times before but much better since the 60's have past ... tho bitter seeds will probably always be scattered about i think they are few ..the problem is that they grow in difficult places and are of the most tenacious sort ... :( my hope and gladness is that God's hand still goes there and reaches out .. :)
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, E.

j.

[Alfred Kukitz]

Ignorance's foundation sits on a vaccum. It just might be to complicated for prejudice's mind & soul.

Great write, scary in its depth!

Regards,
Al

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Al.

j.

[Julia Ledo]

Somewhere in 2015 we are still refusing to see. There are so many issues today that mimic our past. Progress seems like a bit of an illusion. I really like the reflections I get from this poem, it makes you think beyond reading it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it does seem like that....an illusion.
thank you, Julia.

j.

[Lydia Shutter]

People mold their own concepts of what the holiday means....whether they are prejudiced does not seem to bother some. Have we really come that far since 1962? At times I believe we have taken one step forward only to take two backward. Great write. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i don't believe we have gotten very far at all...i agree....more backtracking than moving forward.read morei don't believe we have gotten very far at all...i agree....more backtracking than moving forward.
thank you, Lydi...

j.

[alifeacoustic]

Stunning write Jacob. Brought back memories of going to the cinema in the seventies, where they used to show documentaries before the main feature. This one was about burning crosses and the FBI attempts to break up the Klan. I remember as a kid for being terrified for the people this was happening to, wondering how much worse the fear of it happening to them must be. I dont even remember the movie, I just remember feeling grown ups were mad. Hating a group of people because e see a difference made about as much sense as hating people who take a different size shoe.
Wonderful write Jacob. Thought provoking.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

how can people think that others are beneath them...it is so sad...if the shoe were on the other foot...they would understand just how stupid they are...thank you for your words, alife.

j.

[alifeacoustic]

True. Very true. You are very welcome Jacob.