Reverse Conviction

Reverse Conviction

 

 

 

my free verse writing

got arrested by

a strict, rhyming cop

 

handcuffed with iambic chains

feet secured in beats of five

the bars full of drunk vowels

consonants with criminal sheets

20 pages long

 

they threw the book at me

an author now slandered

with a record of creative combativeness

 

it will follow all of my words

indefinitely,

and it is doubtful

i would ever find another job

 

once my writing served its sentence

and found freedom from the constraints

 

of what i still consider

 

 

                                                                        felonious form.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

12/28/16

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

I adore this. For so many reasons. There are people among us who cannot stray from their convictions, even if they do not make sense -- whether it be in writing or in life in general.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, KL...appreciate your insights.

j.

[Norman 223]

Obviously written in one of you more skittish moments, Jacob. Loved the image of the "rhyming cop" castigating your free verse. ( I hope that was not an observation on my attachment to rhyming and metre)

N. :-))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i appreciate your observations...yes, i guess a skittish moment, indeed.

thank you, my friend.

j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Felonious form...LOVE it! It seems there are many deputies i the poetry police. This one put a huge smile on my face! Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

glad i could make you smile, Lydi...yes, watch out for those poetry police...they are in unmarked cars....

j.

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

This makes me think of innocent beings ending up in prison for no rhyme or reason just because police has the power. And they forevermore have a criminal record and no opportunities to "redeem" themselves and get on with their lives.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Nadia...

j.

[ms. barrie]

my recent writes have become more structured than my norm. as you know I usually have a tendency to ramble on. I personally feel that creativity//art shouldn't have rules...as long as the context isn't blatantly offensive....but that's just me.

That said, I enjoyed your use of intriguing, pensive imagery you've brilliantly conveyed in this piece. Your ink always strikes a chord within the reader's psyche.

Thank you, for sharing - X - barrie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i agree with your first paragraph to a "T"--yes, no rules, but blatantly offensive to me violates the sense of our important genre...
thank you, barrie...

j.

[D Connolly]

this is great! I am shackled by the poetry police and have just been let out on poetic parole... I've always been very structured and couldn't stand to be otherwise, it made me crazy (that's why I was locked up, you see). Now, thanks to poets on this site, I am starting to experiment with non rhyming and no rhythm. Not sure if I like it as well, but I am learning from poets such as yourself :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, D.

i always say that we gradually find our comfort zone when writing...structure, strict form or blank verse...whatever comes most naturally.

thank you, D.

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

Bad to the bone...feel the motor running....out onto the highway.....😀

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sounds like Christine...bad to the bone...but then like Christine, the muse drives us...we have little control, i think.
thank you, Queenie.

j.

[Alfred Kukitz]

Juxtaposition never had a better ally. Creativity and reality finding soul's bond.

Regards,
Al

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so true...they do have a bond...thank you, Al

always appreciate your visits...

j.

[Einstein Noodle]

coup de grâs, in your closing, turned a smile into a chuckle for me..well done says i! there is a reason one lets go of tradition and a reason one picks it up ... let your freak flag fly sir!
https://youtu.be/1RPovmMwef8 you simply must take a moment to sit back and listen to this anthem we shared sir!
E.
ps i think coup should be in this one somewhere ;)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, E. and will check out
the video...

j.

[AYVID N]

In my short writing journey I have experienced more joy in letting thoughts and ideas free flow and letting structure and rhyming play truant. However, i never fail to feel that internal jab every time I write something that doesn't rhyme, however creative may be the thought.

A great poem on the constraints faced by a poet...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, constraints.....i have always ignored them, although sometimes i just get in that rhyming frame of mind...and if so, at least the rhyme comes naturally....if i find i am forcing anything, i just stop...
thank you, DIVYA...

j.