callous appetizer

callous appetizer

 

 

 

a Plath-ian dish of inconvenience

life's soup

doled out with painful ladle

and drunk with a razor sharp

silver spoon

 

cuts the lip of song

straight to a heart 

that writes, exploiting the discomfort

 

a first taste 

that burns the pen's tongue

so hot with sorrow

and self-abasement

 

it can no longer

taste the grandiose flavor

 

of purpose.

 

 

erin-cilberto

5/7/16

Reviews

[...]

This brings to mind the mosquito...laughing, yes I know your reference is Plath, but my mind went somewhere else with it. Questioning purpose. The mosquito is a pain in the a*s and dishes out painful inconvenience with razor sharp reminder of life's seeming imperfections. (which just may, in fact, be it's purpose to man) But, to the frog or the bat, (who themselves seem to have no purpose) The mosquito is a "callous appetizer" of delicious proportions.
Food for thought...is it not "purpose" in and of its self? Life and living it, the mystery I love learning about :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like your take on this...opens my eyes to my own hidden meanings...

life's imperfections...

thank you, lynn

[barleygirl]

Most outstanding are your references to Sylvia Plath's story of apparent inner torture, very artfully twisted into a description of life being a painful meal. And it's true that often people only feel the sharp jabs, which can overshadow the deliciousness of this journey called life. Love your sardonic portrayal.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, barleygirl...

Plath was one of my biggest influences as a writer...

j.

[V]

I found another fav by you. Love your choice of words, especially the lines "and drunk with a razor sharp
silver spoon" and the allusion to/mentioning Plath. Reads very well.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really appreciate your encouraging review, Vanessa....
j.

[V]

You're welcome. :)

[Shabeeh Haider]

Powerful phrases. Being callous can certainly cut at the heart.
"a first taste
that burns the pen's tongue
so hot with sorrow
and self-abasement"
Brilliant.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Shabeeh.

j.

[David Scott]

A scathing observation of poetic character.
Yet, calling a spade a spade is not cruel or callous... It is simply honesty. Maybe a feeling can be born from such honesty.
A brilliant mind guides this pen.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

far from brilliant...but thank you for the kind review, David.

j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I think of how one bad experience can makes us dislike something we once enjoyed. Powerful metaphors.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights, Dale.

j.

[Lyn Anderson]

I am struck by all these lines. A Plath-ian delicacy certainly has a bite to it. This poem delivers.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, my friend....

j.

[redzone]

i read your poem now a few times and each time I went to this thought: in a world where everything is about self a self-centered life (what's in it for me) the "purpose" can only be very narrow and devoid of much content or even pleasure (hedonistic usury at best)... even our art becomes self serving and sterile.. for some who see this, come to understand even parts of this "culture", they either give up attempts at creating/creativity; or as in the case of Sylvia and others, give up completely with life, never seeing they could make a difference...

Plath, did make a difference in many ways, and think of what more she could have said had she seen this difference and stayed around longer... I am certainly not putting her down, not my intent... she was surrounded by this culture and she fought it the best she could... I have always loved her for this and for the way her poetry and prose inspired me to look for more "purpose" and seeing what ever happiness I may have is part of creating a world free of this self serving life...

She truly was a wonderful poet and woman... and your poem rich with calling our attention to have a life of "purpose", more than, better than that "silver spoon".. thank you for this Jacob.

redzone

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights of the poem and sylvia...i agree...she could have given us so much more if she could have stayed around longer.

such a tragic life and death---such a talent.

j.

[Matching Socks]

Ah yes, definitely Sylvia inspired.
Even in death she is poetic.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, she was amazing...thank you, Ana.

j.

[Nisreen]

Makes me think
of how people could be so different than one another
Some truly build up people through a word
Others are the poison of life

You captured the spirit of it all
I guess its important to be an ethical writer

Besides having a hobby of it ..... it should seek truth

good one J
I could be far off but my brain went this way when i read your words

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words and insights, Curiosity...

j.