The Mailman

inspired by Paul's "The Letters"

the Mailman

you were sweet words

and a stamp

i was distance,

licked envelope flaps

and unreadable cursive

then we were in the same mailbox

which got smaller and smaller

until the letters were from lawyers

(not ones in love)

and there were plaintiffs

and defendants 

decrees and degrees of friction

then letters of dismissal

dissolution

and evolution

resurrection

as life went on as usual

and there was an unusual calm

that pervaded

after you had so beautifully invaded

my postmark

and left your date

on the seal

of my good nature

postage due.

erin-cilberto

10/30/17

Reviews

[Paul Bell]

To start with in any relationship, there's just two.
Circumstances can change this into three.
Then as you put it so affectionately.
This can lead to all sorts of people invading your privacy. I don't get why you can have drive through marriages. But no drive through divorces. Need to ask my lawyer that question. Or just ask the real lawyers in the bar.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i'd like to know what he or she says about the drive-thru divorces...

thank you for your comment...and for the inspiration to write this one. it is magic how reading others' works and can suddenly get our fingers moving over the keys.

j.

[Paul Bell]

I must admit, Jacob. I'm glad I came across this site.
The diversity is amazing. I was actually tampering with the idea of taking a line off ten different poets, just to see how it would turn out. So if you see a line of yours amongst others. It was done with good intentions.

[Giulia King]

Powerful, sad words on this one. But I loved reading it!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Giullia,

j.

[Jimmy Yetts]

Perhaps the saddest thing in life is faded love; an exquisitely painful state in which former lovers and best friends are encouraged by our legal system to rat each other out--to honor "Big Brother" and profoundly betray each other.
Brilliant work!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that was one thing i vowed with exes...and friends we shared...you don't need to take sides...you can still be OUR friends.

[Neville]

Jacob, you have here, in your own inimitable way successfully managed to capture the very essence of loves disintegration and the void so very often left behind in its wake. Just another one I would have liked to have written myself........N

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are kind in your review, thank you, Neville.

j.

[Neville]

I am honest in my review......Best, Neville

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This has such a sad/angry tone as your metaphor leads us through the stages of love's decline and its after effects. Full of pathos Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, John.
j.

[marilyn 1225]

my brother had a divorce and it was so painful he was contemplating suicide his lawyer was expensive as can be and much more but the good news is that he is content now after about five years his wife still visits and they are close friends

[marilyn 1225]

sad how love can change so radically to what you matter of fact ly described,, sad stuff
also new now in nyc death and injuries abound so be happy you are safe and can write here bad or good!!

[marilyn 1225]

if this is biographical, then you are resharing the same mailbox... pretty heavy powerful stuff
so so so well written

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, marilyn.
j.