too late for the spotlight

too late for the spotlight

 

 

i am illuminated

but dead

i am read by hoards 

but dead

they didn't want me alive

i had no meaning to them then

but when the corpse speaks

from the halls of 

the vaults of

the mausoleums of

silence that screams with grave cursive

 

you hear me now,

you like me now,

you heed me now,

the words finally claw their way out of the dirt

up from the lost recesses of white dust

 

i am finally more than a notion

an ocean of phrases that now dance above the waves

as you watch from the safe sand sounding out the syllables

clapping for an encore

 

but i'm sorry

i am illuminated

but dead

so the hoards can shed a few tears

if they prefer,

and then just leave my cynical bones to rot

 

you didn't want me alive

did you?

 

 

erin-cilberto

7/7/19

Reviews

[Jade]

such an intriguing write here, emotional indeed.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Jade.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

Living in a fast world one is soon forgotten or only appreciated until they are deceased, its all to do with the art circle, artists, writers, actors.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so true, andrew, so true.
thanks for your insight,
j.

[andrew mitchell]

and musos..............

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Such a powerful eulogy this Jacob. Indeed it feels we strive to be noticed, to make an impact but all we can hope for is to be remembered. My mother wrote poetry but my younger brother sold her computer when she died and I have but two of the poems left!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh John that is so tragic that you don't have the poems that she had on her computer...that those are gone...i hate to hear that...
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you for your words Jacob. I still regret it but am used to it now.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and the two poems left? be nice if you posted them here sometime....would love to read them.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

What a wonderful suggestion Jacob. Will do so. Many thanks for your kindess.

[kitty]

Answer to the final question...maybe aimed at a past love or foe I'd say, but it would probably be 'no!' We often make judgements or jump to conclusions without weighing the pros and cons of a situation. The 'spotlight' might come when we least expect!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think this is an interesting perspective you explored...thank you, kitty,
j.

[kitty]

Don't mention!

[Chris Shaw]

I think here of poets and artists who were little known while they lived their passion. And now they are dead, long dead in some cases, they have become well known and admired for their talent. Many of them died penniless, but someone is making money out of them now. Yes, too late for them to benefit from the spotlight now. Far too late, This is the ghost of one of them speaking. That's where you took me Jacob.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, it often takes death for a poet to be recognized...and it is sad that many don't get the benefits, financial or otherwise until they pass...
thank you, Chris.
j.