old lessons

old lessons

 

 

 

the specter of you,

ghost mountain daredevil

no cane to rest your words upon

as you walk into the sunset of your poem

 

risking the fall that has followed you

from birth,

the girth of your enigma

a writer's dirge is to surge ahead

 

leaving behind reckless wounds

scars of broken climbs into musing clouds

 

i still look up to you now,

even though you have fallen at my feet

 

the debris

of what you used to be

a metric mess

of decaying drivel

a blank sheet of sense

 

i am still trying to understand

as i step out of my blue world

into yours.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/3/16

Reviews

[Dean]

Here the poet gives us a nice contrast--his acknowledgement of vulnerability, and then proceeding directly to a critical assessment of the object's own failings, finally ending with a gesture of frustration--a rather fascinating study of contrasts from a single viewpoint. That's a lot to pack into one observation,
but it gives the reader some work to do. Kind of sneaky, but I say it with a voice of admiration. I'll take it on. :-)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your keen insights, Dean...appreciate your words,

j.

[Nandita Tankha]

amazing work sir....thanks for sharing

[Relic]

I think it is to be assumed the one spoken of had always been reckless as a part of their internal makeup. Like any daredevil, the body (or in this case the mind) is not infallible. Weakness will seep through in the worst of ways. The broken poems of the past will take a toll but the spirit is somehow still intact, struggling to prove something.

When I was younger, I was a big fan of Evel Knievel. Now that I'm older, I see him through different eyes-- Foolish and in a sorry state. I can relate that to this.

This, of course, is one interpretation. I also see another that could relate to alzheimers.

I like your comparisons in this as I do most of your poems. You're able to relate things in a creative way that makes sense.

Great poem Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

could be either of those...i like those interps...thank you for relating...and the kind words...
read morecould be either of those...i like those interps...thank you for relating...and the kind words...

j.

[W.k.kortas]

While I'm hard-pressed to say exactly why--perhaps the sweep is a little wider, perhaps the balance between the deftness of the language and the ingenuity of the imagery is just so--I'm of a mind that this may be the finest of your pieces that I have read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow, that is really a kind compliment, W.k.----i am glad this could strike a chord with you---
j.

[Michael Oliver]

Ah back to the Prospero mode I see.
Ah yes the temptation is to chuck the book into the sea but may be one more go at casting a spell EH?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

maybe!!! :)))
thank you for your words, Michael...
j.

[highonwords]

a very reflective poem - i could see the words walking into the sunset - and disappearing from view - confounded - totally mesmerized - dying for more awareness than the words themselves could allow the poet

steph

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful review, steph.

j.

[highonwords]

you're welcome, my friend

steph