no make-up forthcoming

no make-up forthcoming

 

 

 

fragrant suffering,

sachet filled with scented tears

she waits by the vanity

stares for him in her mirrored gloom

 

she wants to doll herself up for someone

and he is her reason,

eyeliner runs like a tributary

from an ocean of grief

 

and she knows he will never return

no matter what shade of lipstick

she stores in the hope chest

that is her aching heart.

 

 

erin-cilberto

1/31/19

Reviews

[Onlyme]

This is really heartbreaking, grieve is such a devastating emotion. That affects anyone when someone, close to them passes. And coming to terms with this loss it's really hard to come to terms with. They say if you're a couple. And one passes before the other, The other halve dies of grief and missing them soon after.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Dawn.
j.

[John the Baptist]

A veritable word picture of grief here. We do not know whether it is the result of rejection or death, but the effect is the same. Whether recovery will occur or not we cannot tell, only hope. Sadly, some never recover fully. A moving portrait.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful and kind review, John.
j.

[Michael Oliver]

Has the air of a Chinese poet , I like the mood. I feel the soft tragedy, and poignancy. Lovely piece Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Michael.
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

No make-up will cover the grief. Certain words evoke certain pictures. Older women would remember sachets and may yet use them. That being said I pick up the scent of incense & patchouli oil (I'm an old guy, what can I say) that are the reminders of a life lived and a loved one passed...and the remorse creeps in...the woulda...coulda...shoulda's that accompany loss.
Sometimes tears are not enough.

A good write, j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Ted...yes, i am an old guy as well..my younger students, usually only 1 out of 25 know what a sachet is....:)
thanks for your words,
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

This poem should go places.
Send it on tour, I thought this poem might have the 70's burn your bra vibe. Which is not my thing. Even though I think myself a toe to toe kinda woman.
..but, you have sketched out heartbreak and a segment line with no angles.
PS making the heart a hope chest brilliant.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Cherrie...
i'll make some dates for my poem---doubt we will sell out, though. i'll make the tickets really cheap.
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Put me down for 2.:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i will :)))

[Jimmy Yetts]

Kinda like a sad movie produced by Metaphor Productions.
There will be no getting back together--no matter how much hope deludes her heart.
I feel bad for the broad.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ha ha, thanks, Jimmy...i will pass that on to her.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

V1 draws me in ... especially L3 & 4 ... it sets the scene and "...mirrored gloom" to me is really emotive .. after that the layers of her misery are laid on and i want to reach out to her to help somehow ... so ... well done sir ... powerful vignette and without saying it i know she sits there over and over ... packed with imagery as always but this "eyeliner runs like a tributary" is fantastic! thanks for sharing jacob!
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, E.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

So much grief in these lines. Trying to make the effort to wear makeup, to apply it as part of the daily routine, but seeing the mascara turn into tributaries. I've been there and done exactly that. This is the result of the grim reaper no doubt. So realistic Jacob.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Chris.
j.

[Lorry]

An ocean of grief and never returning point to one of two permanents. That he has ran off or passed on. I find myself listing toward death, but in her grief, she will not motice or care what I think. Grief is like that.
Wonderfully written Jacob, with a feeling more than mere observation. Your words resonate pain that far too many know.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Lorry,
j.

[Papaya]

this feels so tragic and really struck me, her grief feels so real and having had my heart broken I understand how she feels. the scene is one that I can easily relate to

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for relating to these words, Ana...
j.