Past the Sell-by Date

Past the Sell-by Date

 

 

 

too old to die

creek veins

spilling through cracks of skin

crusted over with granite memory

 

and even that is like slippery moss

river stones with no names

etched

 

yet

 

 

too old to die

life afraid to leave

overstays its welcome

praying for the company to depart

 

the host's mind fossilizes

lifting arthritic claws

the old Eagle 

too old to die

too old to fly

 

a lake with receding ripples

during a sunset

he wants to go down with sun

 

but

too old to die

the younger version of him

never saw this coming

 

and she's still waiting 

in Aerie

 

nesting her soul.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

7/22/19

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

I really like the stanza about the lake. I saw the wrinkles on the skin of the water. So visual. Sad poem, it happens. Some are ready to go because there is nothing left worth living for, only memories in a bank not accepting any more deposits. Great piece J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Chris,
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed a sad space to occupy as the protagonist agonises the reasons for being when feeling deserted by love and inspiration and even life and choices. Another 'killer' poem Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, John,
j.

[Carol Cashes]

*sigh* Jacob, I have read three of your poems today: one about (literally) nothing which showcased your talent kinda sideways and I almost "missed" it, dark-a*s caves and now "too old to die"?

Even young souls get weary when enough s**t is heaped upon it, and I get it if you're jus' plain bone tired. But each piece is heavier, darker, more fatalistic than the one before...gotta tell ya, man...they are beginning to read like Final Words and Farewells. Is this what you will leave us holding in our hands? Words and combinations of words that to the untrained eyes/reader seem to stand alone, but when taken as a whole, is a bitter and foreboding testament having many chapters describing the cessation of...well, jus' plain givin' a s**t.

Sweet Jesus! Tell me I inadvertently stumbled on these in a coincidence of unfortunate order. Late Night Bender now reads like a rip-roarin' slapstick comedy standing next to these. Leave angst to the young - they'll outgrow it!

Maybe I'm just tired...reading too much into what is after all, nothing more than a skillful combination of words for the purpose of eliciting a certain visceral response - which they did.

Mission Accomplished.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

just poems, Carol....like actors i think we conjure up past experiences to emote emotions...
and the muse for me is kind of different...i don't intend...i am just a conduit and the muse takes me where she wants me to go.
thank you for your kind words,
j.

[kitty]

Am there now , my friend. Some though are too proud to admit it and oft die trying to preserve that which they so vainly cling to instead of enjoying what nature intended. Be proud of those wrinkles and be glad we can admire them!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like that...be proud of those wrinkles...ah yes.
thank you, kitty,
j.

[kitty]

It used to bother me, on looking at old photos of myself but now I have become more accepting and can live with the ageing me Actually proud of the way its treated me!

[Neville]

Now this is sad.. or is it just a probable reality .. an outcome .. an eventuality .. whatever the case might be.. the sell by date came too early.. is there a margin between sell by and best by .. and does it matter at the end of the page...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Neville,
j.

[Neville]

kinda funny innit.. you say kind.. I say true... tis the way of words and the reading of em.....