Heard

Heard

elephant tusks

in the ashtray

still lit dilemma

hiding in plain sight

ivory soul sold to black

evidence in the room

everyone sees my shoulders sag

my heart in flux

a stampede of feelings

illegal hunting of a love recalled

when the shots rang out

I fell to the ground,

crushed by the emotions

that warned me

those tusks were awfully expensive

to acquire

and to give away.

erin-cilberto

4/29/22

Reviews

[Andrew John]

Love the imagery, the phraseology. Thanks, J. A good read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Andrew,
j.

[Patricia]

Very heartfelt, excellent description, Final stanza, painful. As always great writing

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Patricia,
j.

[Writergurl]

felt that elephant in the room in this, like this write, very creative and good solid imagery

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, writergurl,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

The elephant in the room. When everyone knows it's you. You are the one and your suffering is clear here. Felt that stampede of feelings J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for the kind words, Chris,
j.

[knighngale]

very hardbraeking, I love the influx heart,
great touch, dear 😋 maynard

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Maynard,
j.

[Dave]

When one wonders, will we learn that love and nature are not to be taken, certainly not taken for granted?

Take care - Dave

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Dave,
j.

[keith]

'hills like white elephants' ... the elephant in the room (i am such a fan of papa, you have done him honor)
words unspoken, the weight of conversations too heavy for comment
'the ivory soul sold to black' ... perfect exposure
good thoughtful write jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah, thanks for getting the reference to that story...one which I have often taught my classes.
j.

[keith]

it is an undersold classic of Hemingway

[Patricia Wedel]

As Peggy Lee would sing... Is that all there is ? ,,,
However, there is much more... "The Romance of it all".
Gather Ye Rose Buds while you may." However, you can always
enjoy the Dance. tenderly, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, always enjoy the dance.
thank you, Pat,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

An African Safari... will be Good for your Spirit...
around the Horn where Pink Flamingoes wait on one Leg... the other tucked in feathers... gently, Pat

[John the Baptist]

Poaching is not only a sin, it's illegal. Karma's a b***h. So is love.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, John,
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?" Tusk Fleetwood Mac

I enjoyed this one. The elephant in the room is time. And like Mary Chapin Carpenter says in "Shut Up and Kiss Me", "Talk is cheap but time's expensive." Time is life but mostly we hope life is more than time.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah you are astute...the elephant in the room...the white elephant as in Hemingway...
thank you for your insights, Fabian,
j.