Old Chair

Old Chair

 

 

in the parlor

a stranger

removes his coat

 

makes himself at home

tension turns me upside down

death in the afternoon

 

of a cold November day

slowly approaching

the rocker

 

the silhouette

pivots

his face

 

advances a smile

to me

Father?

 

his response

smacks me in the heart

am i in his dream

 

or mine?

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/18/2020

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

A touching write J, some recollections are so real you could nearly touch that moment like watching a play pan out.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for the kind words, andrew,
j.

[Stella Armour]

I am not sure how i read this one Jacob, with the tension and sihouette.
Are you deeply happy or deeply sad?
You certainly have my attention whilst i think about it :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh deeply happy to have known the man, and call him father...I was so blessed.
thank you, Stella,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

I write poetry in my dreams Jacob. On birthdays I remember the people missed. Hello my friend. I hope you are doing well and thank you for sharing your amazing words and your thoughts.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your visit and kind words, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Jacob.

[Betty Hermelee]

I believe this was your dream, a wish to see your father one more time. We all have those wishes, including myself. Memories never fade. Lovely poem J.
B.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind and understanding words, Betty,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

I emphatically completely, especially with my father, best, B.

[Gee]

I hope, for us all, that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones passed.
This even more poignant as Christmas approaches.
Hope you are keeping well Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Gee...doing okay over here, hope the same with you.
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

Either way j ... t'would be a good dream. I have been going over old photos for a cousin and there are several of my father that bring back those memories. He's been gone since '64 but not forgotten.
Thanks for this one friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you Ted...I miss him tremendously...
j.

[barleygirl]

Thank you for reminding me of a piece of my humanity that's been missing for decades. I forget how it might be & your words immerse me in it (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Margie.
I wish humanity could return.
j.

[Dave Brown]

I kina wish the old boy would come back at least for a short chat but they are both long-gone and their memories fade
you always want to enjoy just a couple more moments (but not with my Mother-in-law)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I know, I wish I could have one more chat with him...
you understand and I appreciate that, Dave,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

You had a moment. It sent a little shiver down my spine. Maybe your Dad paid you a visit. Who knows. If that happened to me I would be delighted. If I had been dreaming, I would have been delighted too. There's much we don't know about.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

very much we don't know...feels real even if the visits are in the mind....
thank you, Chris,

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Wow, this poem is quite riveting J. Perfect in intensity, suspense and the harrowing twist in the end. Confronting ghosts of our forebears and the impinging past..confronting our own age and decline...So thought-provoking. Premonition? Visitation? I feel some haunting sense and spirit of old Scrooge in this masterful, deep write. Kudos!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Annette.