the song does remain the same

the song does remain the same

 

 

 

i am a black guitar

with ebon strings

and displaced octave

strange sounds in an urban city

lyrics sung through stitched vocal chords

 

they are burning the wood

ash incorporated,

streets of fire

strike up the band,

the audience can't clap for an encore

they don't know how to react

 

they weren't really listening to the words.

or maybe they were.

 

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

8/17/19

Reviews

[kentuck14]

Wallace Stevens had nothing on you with his blue guitar or Peter at the clavier!
T

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Tom,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Very interesting one. I think this to me comes off as how we listen to loved ones but often do not really hear what they are saying cause we are so comfortable and complacent in how we see them.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like that take on this, Dale...
thank you much for your visit and words,
j.

[Eilis]

This one rings. Your title says it all. Some days I read about what is happening around the world and think we have some kind of masochistic need to relive our darkest times. Why do we need to repeat mistakes when we know that the outcome will be similar or worse. Because we easily forget...

Or as your poem so eloquently states, we just aren't listening. We hear the melody but the lyrics take too much effort to unravel and we really just wanted to have fun. It's a sobering thought, and well-stated by you here.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, Eilis...

yes, we make the same mistakes over and over, we just don't learn.
appreciate your visit very much.
j.

[Lorry]

The song does remain the same Jacob and perhaps I am biased, having made the move from city to countryside, but I have never been more aware of being a strange sound of the urban, amongst a sea of what I see as hilarious accents, which is their normal.
The sounds of urban living becomes a background to the initiated, but to a visitor sound off key. I love not hearing those too loud sounds now, but still miss them too.
The ending took me to my teens of pouring over album covers and lyrics, looking for something I hadn't noticed before.
I still try to focus on the lyrics though, no matter the singer or song.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i don't miss those sounds, either, Lorry...
thanks for sharing how you related to this piece.
appreciate your words,
j.

[CD Campbell]

Don't know if I can say anything different from what was said below, but ZEPPELIN ROCKS BRO!! Seriously, are we humans ins some perpetual cycle that never ends? Or has every one just given up and taken a side to make them feel good about themselves? I love the thought provoking stuff though. This poem just needs more cowbell. (that was a joke)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

of your questions, i think it is the latter---
and your cowbell, i heard it....and smiled...that one damn cow keeps getting out of the pasture.
yes, Zeppelin Rocks...thanks, CD.
j.

[DAH]

Mmmmm ... this is straight up music to my ears, with so many
fabulous lines, and the concept is brilliant ...

"with ebon strings
and displaced octave" this is what I'm talking about!

Bravo, Poet, bravo!

DAH

P.S. is there a "Y" missing in ebon?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, DAH....appreciate your review...
and no..."ebon" is the poetic form of ebony...

[DAH]

Got it! And you're welcome ...

[Neville]

when ya song has had the heart ripped from it.. listen for the feel of rain on ya thatch.. it wont make up for it but it sure leaves a better taste in ya mouth...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes yes, true, Neville,
thank you for your words,
j.

[Neville]

................ My pleasure as always.. N

[Chris Shaw]

This poem reminded me of footage I saw recently of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. The protest songs of the early sixties. I didn't live it first hand being across the pond, but I was aware of it, especially the civil rights movement. That music will always represent rebellion to me, marching, protesting and assasinations. Has anything changed I ask myself?

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, the music represented all of that...and movement as well...but something dried up since.
thank you for your insights, Chris,
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

"they weren't really listening to the words" What became of the civil rights marches from the 60's and 70's...was anyone really listening? All the mass shootings we have seen on the news over the past year...and more....is anyone really listening or paying attention? Do those who spoke out in the 60's see what is happening? Do they still feel the same? These are the thoughts that came to mind while reading your words. As always, wonderful poetry. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think the attention span was too short....the movement died...and what we thought was change...it stopped...thank you for your words, Lydi,
j.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Again I love this thanks you are so talented!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Julie.
j.