a segregated garden

a segregated garden

A Poem by jacob erin-cilberto
"

Inspired by Rico X's poem "2 steps forward, 3 steps back"

"
a segregated garden



black arrangements
the dark roots
blocked before the surface
sinewy flowers not for everyone

stay in your own garden
they surmise
don't mix
don't grow with others

mind the fences
mind the rows
pick the weeds
only on one side

let the others choke and rot
oh, you are a sot
a cistern white in glow
not to let all the flowers grow

one garden,
one mind
one inclination
towards the same sun

and the rain does 
not discriminate
we all get the same tears
from God.


erin-cilberto
2/4/2021

© 2021 jacob erin-cilberto


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Reviews

this is really powerful, makes one think about their life in a way.
very nicely written sir.

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

Thank you, Kari,
j.
This was such a beautiful poem, Jacob!
"stay in your own garden
they surmise
don't mix
don't grow with others"
I feel like I get this, (I might not though, so tell me, lol) stay in your own garden, like...don't mix with other people's business that you don't have business mixing with. I loved this poem (Of course). It was so beautiful and I love the imagery you planted in my mind with this! Thank you for sharing :3

100/100

Nix ❤️

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

thank you for your kind and insightful review, Nix,
j.
Wow....the last line is a masterpiece.
Such unbelievably powerful words.
I enjoyed the entire piece, however.
You keep writing, Jacob. You are a master at it.

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

Thank you for your kind words, light.
j.
light and ashes

3 Years Ago

Always... :)
Beautiful concept here. Yes, all the flowers reach for the sun and get it. The rain falls on them equally. The garden holds so many different plants and flowers. All of them contribute to the beauty there. If only people would realize we all can live together peacefully. Perhaps in our lifetime? Lydi**

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

Thank you for your kind review, Lydi,
j.
jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

I wonder if it is possible to be in our lifetime, Lydi,
I wonder.
Lydia Shutter

3 Years Ago

Once I thought it was....but now I am not so sure.
I read this as mind your own damn business. My garden is mine and you can keep yours out. We don't have to mingle to grow.

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

I really like this interpretation, duff.

I appreciate your insights...
j.
One garden where all flowers, all colours and scents thrive. That is how is should be. I thought about racism back in the fifties in the UK. I thought about posters in windows where there were rooms to be let. No blacks, no Irish and no dogs. So very ugly. so very ignorant. We still have a long way to go. Sadly there are still those who don't believe in equality. We all have a duty to call it out when we see it. Great write Jacob.

Chris

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

Yes, we do have that duty...Poets tend to call out on so many issues...maybe doing it in a poetic wa.. read more
I think all races would segregate me from their garden, though that maybe because I use a flame thrower as part of my origami regime.
Most racism disappears at the life-saving operation stage, and if it doesn't, well, good riddance.
Now, concrete gardens, you can't go wrong with them.

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

thank you for your words, Paul. I wish it would disappear... We are all one.
j.
love the closing ... if we would all turn to God in brutal honesty perhaps His tears would heal us all .. we run from it tho, jacob ... the very healing everyone needs .. powerful, straight to the gut .. super relevant poem sir!
E.

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

you are so right, E....we run from it.
j.
I look forward to the day a man can grow pineapples next to his tomatoes without it starting the shovel wars.
We do all get the same tears Jacob. Some of us however, need a canoe to escape them.
Someone in Scotland must be very naughty indeed. Obviously not me, of course...
We Scots are proof of not discriminating. We even took one of those weeds (thistle) and made it our national flower!!! Although to be fair, that was about the time we invented whisky too! What a night that was!

Posted 3 Years Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

I love your metaphorical response to this piece...thank you, Lorry,
j.
I love this poem. I am trying my hardest to have an unsegregated and free garden (my actual garden) and I think your poem could relate to my soul / psyche too.

In 'Mr God, this is Anna' by Fynn, the teacher is trying to help Anna with her maths by asking "if I had two rows of 12 flowers, how many flowers would I have?" to which Anna (quite rightly in my view) replies "If you grewed flowers like that, you shouldn't grow no bloody flowers". I may have misquoted as it is a while since I read it, but the gist is there. I don't think Creation intended for straight lines and regulation!

You allude to the boundaries in the garden too - perhaps the boundaries between ourselves and others, perhaps the Covid social distancing "don't mix".

The more I look, the more I think I see. This will do for now!

Thank you for your poem

Posted 3 Years Ago


Helen

3 Years Ago

missed the point about racism, but reading other reviews and your comment about how you were inspire.. read more
jacob erin-cilberto

3 Years Ago

I really appreciate you taking extra time with this poem...Yes, his poem greatly inspired me.
.. read more

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Added on February 4, 2021
Last Updated on February 4, 2021

Author

jacob erin-cilberto
jacob erin-cilberto

Carbondale, IL



About
Originally from Bronx, NY, I live in Carbondale, Illinois...teach English at a community college and have been writing and publishing poetry since 1970. I am here to read for inspiration from other po.. more..

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