pouring empty pages into dusk

pouring empty pages into dusk

 

 

there was a headline

back in '69

two dead in a flat in London

Sylvia's shadow and her only ray of sunshine

 

towels with a ghost's initials 

under the door,

guilt and envy the double date couple

as Ted's rain continued to fall

 

and then there was one,

and then there was the son

a legacy of intentional demise

a definitive ending to a once promising sunrise

 

with the prologue left

for a clouded soul to write.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

3/9/19

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I do understand the journey in your words.
"with the prologue left
for a clouded soul to write"
the above lines. I do live. Thank you Jacob for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, my friend,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Jacob.

[Paul Bell]

I think to become a legend you have to die young. Sylvia was always going to die young.
But in saying that, she packed a lot into her life. Probably more than most do in seventy.
Plus, we all love tragic poetry, it's an insight to why we write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, she did pack a lot into her short life..thank you for your insightful words, Paul.
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

A true tragedy on all fronts. Having said that, I may require a name change...:0)
Only one daughter left...wonder what her thoughts are?

Another dynamite bit, j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Ted...and I wonder what Ted Hughes second spouse was thinking...or not thinking....when she did what she did. The shadow cast by Sylvia, too overwhelming i imagine...but still
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

Hard to say what the reason may have been...maybe Hughes wasn't very good luck for either of those ladies...still, tragic to involve the child.

[Einstein Noodle]

i like your first version a bit better ... but i like this one for bringing in the "double date" stuff ... her life was full of too many elements of love and pain ... most suffer broken hearts devastating enough and move us to write .. but she suffered abuse, neglect, betrayal and rejection ... already being a sensitive soul :((( i hope you will continue to tell her story, jacob! she is an inspiration to many

[jacob erin-cilberto]

actually they are very separate pieces...but this one is more about Ted's second wife and daughter..
i thank you kindly for stopping by with your words..
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

ohhh thanks for setting me straight ... going to have to read up on that ... Sylvia was pretty remarkable to many :(

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i loved her and her work...but you will be pretty shocked when you do read about the other two in his life...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

there's something about Ted, unfortunately...

[Einstein Noodle]

going to check it out asap ... thanks jacob!

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

Sylvia's shadow and her
only ray of sunshine.

Such a powerful
piece with character
and a inspiring and
wonderful story.

I loved this
very creative
and deep.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

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

[Heather]

Love the Sylvia Plath reference in this, and the question of does what we do ultimately matter? It seems here some people are "doomed" from the start but that doesn't make their lives any less significant. Nice read

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Heather,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

This encapsulates the whole tragic situation perfectly. They are all there. Sylvia, Assia, her and Ted's daughter and his son by Plath. Guilt and envy the double date couple, what a fabulous line that is. I also liked Ted's rain continued to fall. I feel Assia has been remembered. I wouldn't have wanted to walk in her shoes after Sylvia. Great poem. Love it.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, and the nudge to write this...and i guess i kept her in the shadow..unnamed..
j.

[Chris Shaw]

You certainly kept her in the shadow. Not wanting to take any of the limelight away from your beloved Sylvia. A stroke of genius not to name her. Brilliant.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

As a devout fan of Plath and an arch Hughes denier you capture this morbid scene in such graphic detail Jacob. I never cease to be amazed and thrilled (and a tad jealous Sir!) of your ability with words and the brevity with which you tell an epic tale.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, John.
j.