stained interceptions

stained interceptions

name dropping writers

like sorting old shirts

with limp collars

and worn size tags,

too many washes of dialect

and intellect

the tide rushes over the words

and the ink runs to the sand of deception

embellishing the stains of scholarly

exhaustion,

and we find ourselves desperate

to be them,

knowing we aren't proficient enough with the craft

to dip our toes in their waters

and all that window dressing

up would have been better served

at a Goodwill

maybe our entire lives are just aspirings 

and plagiarisms

of phrases that went to parchment graveyards

in inkwell skies

long before we were born.

erin-cilberto

10/9/17

Reviews

[duff]

I like how there is a variety of emotion here. Hope laced with defeat. Maybe? Doomed from the start. Beyond comprehension someone could step into their shadow. This will get you thinking. Poetic exploration. Nice work.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, duff.

j.

[duff]

My pleasure jacob.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Wow! Pow! Right in the solar plexus of false literati and doomed poets. Scathing, mourning, owning the stage. I applaud you my friend. Brilliant.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you , my friend.
j.

[Norman 223]

Your poem does not appear to me as being defeatist, Jacob, despite its tone.
The difference between prose and poetry (in my opinion) lies between a declaration of your viewpoint or creating a conundrum that can produce a multitude of conclusions. By this, a writer can see, and be seen through many eyes.
N.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, Norman...yes, through many eyes.
j.

[Ranger Kessel]

desperate yet hopeful. I love it. Thanks for sharing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Ranger.
j.

[kitty]

Brings home the truth here! Best to rest on our own laurels eh! Again a beautiful factual write. Thanks for sharing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, kitty,
j.

[kitty]

Don't mention!

[ROXANE DORSEY]

Times change and people do too. thanks for sharing this wonderful poetry.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are kind, thank you, Roxane.
j.

[marilyn 1225]

interesting that writers, scholars who seem almost untouchable are imperfect too why aspire when we have the gift of ourselves we are not them

[AYVID N]

Nothing in this world has been said that has not already been said before. All one can aspire to is to say it again in our unique, signature style, one that we dream for the world to recognize sime day.
A poet is always plagued by self-doubt, however brilliant he or she may be in their chosen genre. You have brought out that feeling amazingly in this poem, Mr. Jacob. Like I always feel awed by your poetry.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are very kind with your review, DIVYA...
thank you.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

yes we still write in hope and maybe to hold onto those who have read our works but have clearly departed, such is life on those who tread tenderly and are put off easily .

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so true, andrew...

thank you.
j.

[Ardra]

and we find ourselves desperate
to be them,
knowing we aren't proficient enough with the craft
to dip our toes in their waters

guess few feels so be desperate to be them...
the reason i write is for me to express my thoughts and writing itself is a sense of freedom in itself..

i can only speak for myself :) not others...
but i guess its always better to stick to your work than making someone else yours.. thanks for sharing this one.. i like the lines you have used here..
of phrases that went to parchment graveyards

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Galadriel...
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess originality is an evolutionary rather than revolutionary concept. WE all see forms we love and it is natural to follow them but most of us want to put our own stamp on the page. And yes most of us feel we could not hold a candle to the true scholars and natural poets. But still we write in hope. As always so well constructed and thought provoking.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we still write in hope....
thank you for your kind review, John..
j.