family man

family man

 

 

 

spit shine blues

ragtime music,

smiling hands move so fast

 

reflection of a toothless singer

humming happy honing

 

sharp azure demeanor

under the grin, chagrin

a dime a shoe

no dinner for you---

 

feeds his family on a shine

and a dulled disposition starving

for respect,

black polish profanity

whispers to himself

 

but he smiles nonetheless

at least if he keeps busy enough

he'll forget how his heart is starving

 

and he won't have time for his tears.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

3/16/16

Reviews

[iand63]

interesting piece J. this weaves many tales into one. We camouflage so much in our daily lives whilst dancing to tunes we create to disguise.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, ian...

j.

[barleygirl]

Many interesting & sensory observations written with tons of good alliteration. Love the way your poem morphs from a simple family man making a modest living (outer appearances), to addressing his deep-down feelings of loneliness.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, barleygirl...

j.

[Rita L. Sev]

A true family man of back in the day... your words portray so many of our fathers, Jacob. Makes me long for my own, and hope that I gave him the respect he deserved... As always, your poetry has me thinking and feeling.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Rita.

j.

[...]

I love the way you see your father. I wish I could have seen mine with such respect and admiration. Truly touching portrait, Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, lynn.

j.

[Corset]

Her little doll fingers
living in a big building
rides in a family car
dreams of grandeur
born so small and all
her substitute friends
are afraid to love,
but in the morning
gives better
she gets better
then she blooms.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a lovely poetic response, Corset...thank you for sharing these words....

j.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Oh, dear! Your love for your father is so palpable and prevalent throughout so much of what you write. I can almost feel the weep of words from your fingertips, your heart. Your father's essence is in your veins, and you honor him with each and every write. A busy man keeps his eye on the road ahead. Only by keeping his eyes on the way ahead will he eventually get there. Such a man, once he arrives, will then have the time for reflection; time to weep for the life unlived and time to weep for the stars not grasped.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really love your insightful words, Linda Marie...thanks so much for your understanding...

j.

[J Manuel]

Oh Family Man, I see the ebb and flow of your struggle with poverty and those of the working poor caught in the web of social epidemics that brings discord to many as yourself Family Man who reflect on musical romantic nostalgic memories from the past.

Jacob, the imagery in this poem connecting the past to the present for the sacrifice of family through the honorable role of fatherhood is priceless. I love how the third stanza depicts a state of depression from what one was, to what one is (you know I could relate to this).

A beautiful piece my friend, much appreciated.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, J.

[J Manuel]

reedited , read it again

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i knew you meant imagery...thanks again, my Bronx friend.

[Lydia Shutter]

The family man who works a full time job and sometimes a part-time job on top of that...he just keeps going because that is what he is supposed to do. Reminds me of the men who were fathers way back when....like my dad. Men didn't cry back then...at least not in front of anyone. They were the breadwinners and they went above and beyond to support the family. Those were the days, my friend. Shoe shine stands....a thing of the past, but a good example here. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for sharing that story...yes, my dad, the same...the strong one always...the caretaker of all of us...never cried....now that he is older...the tears come more often.

thank you for your words,, Lydi..

j.

[Lyn Anderson]

Sometimes, when we are miserable, we work hard, and find it impossible to determine if it's the crap job or the crap life that make us unhappy. That's my angle, anyway, having nearly worked myself to death to keep myself from going crazy in an unhappy life.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i always like your angles...KL....thank you.

j.

[Dhaye]

I agree that being busy with work can help one forget his problems.
It is not so easy to be a family man/woman. I know it. One must learn to forget his/her needs for the sake of those who depend on him/her.
So touching but well-written.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

true, Dhaye...so true...

thank you for your insightful comments...

j.