anthems and dead silence

anthems and dead silence

 

 

 

the statue of 

kneel before her, or stand before her

or lie down in the street before her

 

protest the protests of the protest

our God given right

to sue our own country for breach of contract

 

let us remember those rice patties

the hidden mines

the subliminal minds

 

the flag burning lines

negotiating the Billy clubs

the unsilent rubs

against the ethics of peace

the pathos of cold logistics

and numbers

 

each night ABC news recounting the dead

and those Detroit lions

roaring in prides, being gunned down

into near extinction,

 

it's all a chaotic amusement to some

a vigilant arsenal for Facebook chatter

and for those hundreds of unknown friends

 

who share nothing but small talk,

while the big conversation

looms in a congestive air

 

surrounding the statue of

what used to mean something.

 

erin-cilberto

 

10/18/17

Reviews

[duff]

The attention seeking drives me crazy. No substance to back half of it up. Bring it if you can but otherwise breathe easy. I like this Jacob. Sharp and crisp points that cannot be mistaken.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, duff.
j.

[duff]

You are very welcome.

[BBP]

Thank you for this J! So true... it all used to mean something that was so much bigger than what it is being disregarded for now! So sad...but you did a wonderful take on the situation! :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, BBP...
j.

[DiskartetHaraya]

Hi. Non-American here but I nonetheless appreciate the poem. Universally relevant.

As a writing geek though, I have more to say besides your poem's topic and more about the poem itself.

I particularly like the withdrawal of the statue's name, its repetition and replacement with "what used to mean something," and the line "to sue our country for breach of contract".
The line in particular, is very interesting. For most would love their country, but it's as if they think to love it would be to tolerate it, when in fact it already betrayed them (and then the poem doesn't portray anyone innocent, amazing).
The title was beautiful, attention-grabbing. Not at all mere click-bait.

In summary: Well-written. Concise but full of irony.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Diskartet...
j.

[Shy Joe]

A lot of issues are not talked about or brought into the lime light. At least we are well informed of our President's babbling buffoon twitter account. It's enlightening.

Enjoyed your poem. Thanks for sharing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Joe...

j.

[barleygirl]

WOW! WOW! And WOW! Finally someone has put it into words with the intensity that I feel on this topic. This is brilliant. Everything else I've read is bland oatmeal. The last two lines are like a knife to the heart -- ahhhh! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are too kind, Margie...
thank you,

j.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Quite right, Jacob, and beautifully put. Small talk and public chatter seem oblivious of the 'big conversation.' Perhaps the 'congestive air' around that Statue of Liberty will soon have a rapid expansion into those deaf ears!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i appreciate your words, Aunt Astri...
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

sobering words..and true ...the situation is well beyond control and sensible discussion ... i think when actors and sports players high-jack the "stage" for personal opinion .. they should be booed off ... they do themselves and their cause no justice and obliterate the statement ... makes me glad i don't watch football any more ... maybe America should embrace soccer ... i especially appreciate your inclusion of FB into the fray .. glad i only go there to see my families pics ... well timed .. thought provoking poetry sir!
E.
ps. i remember when sports' greats really were heroes and people to emulate as we grew up ..not any more >;/

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i do agree with some of what you say...yes the anthem thing is congestive in itself...soldiers fight for our rights to be free, democratic and have first amendment rights...but there is such controversy as to where and how far they go.
thank you for your insightful comments, E.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

i can not help but imagine the good they might do if only 12 of them put some money into places that would help... so many community organizations that are needing money and promote general well being of neighborhoods that have been failing for many years .. thanks for the poem jacob ... its a good discussion spark

[AYVID N]

and for those hundreds of unknown friends

who share nothing but small talk,
while the big conversation
looms in a congestive air

Its like the local smog dissipating, while the stratosphere remains clouded, poisioned! So profoundly disturbing, especially when we seem so helpless. So beautifully said, Mr. Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, DIVYA.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This had, has me pondering Jacob. Past times when values were thought to have worth yet some awful things done in the name of such liberty and now things are so dilute, superficial and full of images and reports that it becomes a commonplace event to see such things done across the globe. Yet no one challenges it, where are the protests, what did the people do about Syria other than chatter, and the Rohingya and...............

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, lots of superficial chatter, not much like the 60's when the real, prolonged protests happened...thank you, John.
j.