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.

[...]

There you go again, getting me worked up! lol I'm gonna' drink some coffee and try to refrain from shooting off at the mouth this morning. I'm very impatient with stupidity, ignorance, and intolerance, Jacob. I judge people by their character, not their color, and could give a rats a*s about "what's in style" and I'm just gonna' leave it at that, and have some more coffee :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

nuff said! :)
thank you, lynn, enjoy your coffee!

j.

[DirectTangent]

The ingredients of willful ignorance and self-serving hatred of others, among other things, generates an evil so caustic that it burns through the soul. The only difference in the times now and the times then is the difference between sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrocholoric acid. What, to me, is almost as despairing as the original evil is the resurgence of another evil that wishes to re-write our history and conveniently make light of the burns marks.

The writing of such a piece reveals fortitude of character. The writing in the piece reveals skill to envy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, DT...

j.

[W.k.kortas]

Speaking for myself, I've always been very leery of wading too deeply into the waters of politics, or the equally nefarious shoals of advocacy in my work, as it's just too damn easy to have the point-of-view overtake the writing itself, and then you wind up with the tail wagging the dog, as it were. That said, this avoids any such pitfalls quite nicely, thank you very much. The tone is suitably understated, letting the reader discover the meanings for himself, rather than being beaten around the head and shoulders with a hectoring tone. Fine, fine stuff.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, W.k.....i appreciate your words,
j.

[Perkele.7885]

Jacob, I never saw color
race nor creed was never an issue with me

I like or dislike for what comes out of a person's mouth and whether they stand up for what they say. It is all about integrity. My table is open to men with honor.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i am so glad to hear what you say...each of us is an individual and should be taken as such...we all matter...

thank you for your words,
j.

[CA Anurag Sharma]

1962...much much before I was born... but after hearing about that period from my grandparents... I think life was less complicated then...but a beautiful poem again from you Jacob Sir... i really enjoy reading your work....thanks for sharing

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and sometimes less complicated in a bad way...thanks so much for your words, Anurag.

j.

[CA Anurag Sharma]

You are welcome Sir... :)

[Gee]

Year of my birth Jacob,sometimes when I see the hatred in this world I wish the midwife had shoved me back up and sewed me in.As always a top notch write

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh yes, if only we had that option of coming out when we wanted to...i wonder if any time would have been a good time---always something.

thank you for your words, Gee.

j.

[Gee]

Nae problem.......

[CD Campbell]

I almost did not review this poem to due conflicting feelings on the subject matter. I can't tell you how many times that I've written something down here and backspaced. All I can say is that you got my head and my heart ramped up. I like your work a lot and this poem is no different. Have a Merry Christmas Jacob! CD

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, CD....i understand the conflicting feelings--for sure---this subject gets my heart in a turmoil...
appreciate your kind thoughts on my work...

merry christmas back at ya.

j.

[redzone]

in 1962, I was just beginning to open my eyes to the "incontinence" of "bigotry" and it wasn't only christmas trees that got decorated with "strange fruit" and black skinned ornaments...

it was a time of beginning resistance to these and other outrages that inflamed our country as the whole world was alive with change and revolution... we lost that round and the incontinence continues today, different wars, different forms of lynchings, but the underlying cause is the same and there is stirrings in the air again... will we build better and with more abilities to fight? will this time be the one where we break out and free?? we might be there Jacob to see this, but it will be the young people today who will see it through one way or another...

your poem is both well written, is ART, allowing young people to know the history of this incontinence and bigotry... thank you for this Jacob... it may be short, but it is long on importance...

redzone

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review and insightful words...hopefully they will see it through, Curt.
read morethank you for your kind review and insightful words...hopefully they will see it through, Curt.

j.

[Cryingkate]

So In Dec. of 1962 This was what the world was like?
No Dang wonder only 4 months later I came into this world crying.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

makes sense....thank you, Connie.

j.

[poet_feefee]

i get it...but that's too short to allow a comment

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, they want that minimum of 25 words...not sure why...thanks, poet_fee fee...

j.