Dickinson writes the Apostrophe of Sylvia

 

Dickinson writes the Apostrophe of Sylvia 

 

 

slip-sliding into the crawlspace

her black box of pills raided

the contours of her mind

concave with doubts about life

but certainty about death

 

she curls up into a caricature of herself

falls asleep with one eye on God

the other nailed to the cross of her existence

hoping that Pilot won't edict to wake her

she wants that stone between 

 

what she never became and all she was expected to be

knowing full well, it was the voice in her own head

that read her the last rites

while she gasped for one final dance

with the more than willing quill.

 

 

erin-cilberto

3/26/16

Reviews

[Leslie Philibert]

Another fine poem. Sylivia might have died by accident, some speculate, she had the feeling she had to risk her life every ten years..with some banal changes on that day, she might have survived. Fine write from a poet who understands the material so well.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

interesting you said what you did...her "lady lazarus" poem seems to indicate she liked the show of it all...the coming close and being saved..and i feel too, she thought that would happen the last time...she was in the height of her best writing....thank you for your kind words, Leslie.

j.

[Dalton]

This piece is brilliant. The final stanza extends to anyone facing the nihilistic end. Perhaps, there is a moment of regret right, a will to life, that comes too late for some.
Salute to you,
D

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful view of this sometimes ragged piece...

j.

[Matching Socks]

Sylvia endured a troubled and tragic end. The pressure we put on ourselves can make us crack.
I sometimes wonder if greatness and insanity go hand in hand. Most geniuses seem to be quite troubled,
Really great piece Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it seems they are , doesn't it...thank you for your words, Ana.

j.

[highonwords]

she has decided to end her life - wonders about God's existence - will He judge her for her fatal decision - would the odds be against her - ponders about the bleakness and lack of meaning in her life - she was willing to die the way her muse is dying for her to write all about it

this is what your poem told me it is about - don't think of death, too much, my friend - we need you, may you outlast your gift - may you outlast death

cheers,
steph

[jacob erin-cilberto]

actually yes, sylvia was suicidal...emily wrote much about death, she thought she knew very well what it was like...and wrote using apostrophe...for me it is just a poem...yes, i use death in my poems quite often...but actually enjoy life just fine...here i imagined dickinson writing from the perspective of plath...and the whole suicide thing...i would like to have seen a discussion between the two...would have been interesting...
thanks for your words...

j.

[highonwords]

i just hope sylvia didn't die on her family - i just wish she were stronger than the muse, who talked her out of life - very sad actually, such a waste of talent, a waste of life

thank you, my friend, for sharing your thoughts :)

best,
steph

[Wolf_Lord]

Awesome... You definitely have a way with words. TY for the good read. Wolf ,'', ^@@^ ,'',

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for the kind words, Wolf...

j.

[Cory Barrett]

This is great. In so many ways Sylvia was everything that Emily was terrified of. Everything she stayed inside of her room to attempt to avoid Sylvia met in the flesh and Emily live out in the terror of her mind.

I can only imagine what a conversation between the two of them would have been like.

One clenching a bible with doubt saying "all of the white furry, I’m so afraid of the hues"

The other teething a cigarette replies "you have no idea sister."

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, i think those responses sound like a conversation between the two....thank you for your response...sylvia was part of my masters thesis...and emily is my favorite...they are actually one and two in my book...we can imagine.

j.

[Autonomous]

This is very compelling I just took a deep breath of satisfaction reading this, thanks for the semi-daily dose of great poems. :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words Z.

j.

[Circe]

Haunting and powerful..you write with master class... the voices are enigmatic.. the portrait a glimpse into one of the most darkly fascinating subjects of poetry. I love this very much.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Circe...

j.

[ms. barrie]

oy! this is just too amazing, Sir! your pen spills such stark and
compelling ink that truly captures the essence of both poetess
psyche. the desperation and helplessness that both only found
solace through pouring their words onto.paper.

I love every word you choosed & how you used them.
simply a masterpiece & one of my favorite s on here.
Thank you for sharing!
~ xx - b.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you so much for your kind words, nocturne...pretty easy to be inspired by my two favorite poets ever....emily and sylvia.

j.

[ms. barrie]

you're very welcome...always a pleasure to visit your art...
jacob ~ barrie