the real soul of the poet

the real soul of the poet

black Plath,

dark night,

dark knight

he shines no more

another lover

another excuse

another night writing with her

black Plath

heart of ash

flames turned cold blue fire

the tips hardened

unsteady flicker

he has picked her

his pen flared for the alternate beauty

while hers is dying inside

black Plath

so young 

so confused

so used,

his book the priority

his greatness weighed like Hamlet's

his tragedy, now hers

he moves on

and she spirals down

a flight of progressive stairs

of emptiness

can't get out of her own way

fingers burnt from the cigarettes 

she never used to smoke

life gets hazy

when your heart gets crazy

and the words get committed

visit her...she would appreciate your coming

maybe join her for a puff or two

a word or two

a lifeline before it breaks

before she breaks

her tragedy, now ours.

erin-cilberto

10/29/16

Reviews

[Corset]

Jacob, this is just wow..

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Corset

j.

[ms. barrie]

oh, bravo!!!!. what a stunning gem you penned!
such brilliance in its compelling, poignancy.
your incredible choice of words (imagery), and
depth truly captured the poetess' tortured life...
(towards the end.). --- & heart so eloquently.

this is got to be one of my favorites on here,
your word-weaving, mesmerizing!!

thank you for sharing ~ ❤︎ ~ barrie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind words, barrie....

j.

[Alfred Kukitz]

You honor us with the version of your heart on a tragic tale of loss. So kind of you to share.

Lovely Jacob!

Regards,
Al

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Al.
j..

[Sami Khalil]

It is a tragedy indeed what happened to her and at a young age. A sad story that went haywire for her. I can sense you admire her a lot and have no love lost for him. An excellent one, sir Jacob...:)............

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, Sami...did my thesis on her and Sexton...and despise Ted...thank you for your words.
read moreyes, Sami...did my thesis on her and Sexton...and despise Ted...thank you for your words.

Ted Hughes' second wife, the one for whom he left sylvia...committed suicide the same way sylvia did and had their 4 year old daughter with her...so there is something about Ted, don't you think?

kind words as always from you--

j..

[Sami Khalil]

I figured. Wow. You are welcome...:)........................

[Bacchus]

a what if Plath could've been healed from emptiness...
would we still love her so?
I hope so.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that is quite the valid question...i would also hope so...

thank you, Bacchus.

j.

[Papaya]

It's a tragedy to lose someone so young but as much as she was talented she was equally tortured.
I wonder if it goes with the territory sometimes. To feel things magnified by a thousand as a poet.
Her history of depression and suicide attempts are quite sad, but real for a lot of people still. A wonderful poem Jacob. When I first started writing here I was brand new at Poetry and knew nothing of poets. You introduced me to her and Anne Sexton, so thank you for that.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and through your poetry i am not surprised that you would appreciate these poets as well...and am glad you are able to do that.
thank you for your words,
j.

[Papaya]

You're welcome. :)

[Anindita Janhabee]

Dark night...
As the souls preach themselves...
Writing together
Spending time together..
All goes away one day...
She leaves, he shouts....
He cries, she turns....
At the last ...
Hoping for the best,
May both have got their eternal relation...........
So beautifully written Sir, I appreciate this a lot... Even I could make out this short poem out of yours .. Such was the effect.....
The title was too nice to catch the attention of the reader.....
Very intense...and deep.....!!!
Anindita :-)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Anindita...enjoyed your short poem...

j.

[Anindita Janhabee]

My pleasure...

[Ted Kniffen]

Like so many, gone too young. A tortured, uncertain soul who had the misfortune to hook up with Hughes.
When she left, a bright voice was stilled and yet she lives on. This is a true memorial. Well done, j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Ted...

yes, a voice stilled at too young an age.

j.

[Paul Bell]

I suppose if you could write your own epitaph, she did it.
You sort of know from the first attempt, when she couldn't meet her hero Thomas, there would be more.
I suppose as life went on, death was always at the back of her mind, which i suppose was the real tragedy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, as Sexton "he waits in the cupboard"

sooner or later we pull out that package or canned good...and use it.

thank you, Paul.

j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob... you have introduced me to
Sylvia Plath. I just googled her... the tragedy
was real. I read her poem Tulips. So many more to read.
She died at age thirty. I normally do not read about the dark side...
However, I will read her poems. Thank you... Jacob.
truly, Pat