That

That

 

 

sat on a stool

in City Lights bookstore

in Haight.

asking of those who knew him

what Lawrence Ferlinghetti was like

as a young man, and then in old age

 

always with a book in his hand, reading aloud?

Or did he do a lot of silent introspection,

recollection and then intellection

transferred in verse

to another page of his life.

 

I marveled at the shelves

the quaintness of the interior

those other great Beats who had 

frequented the store and sold there

their wares

 

I would have liked to say hello to L.F.

Just "hello"----

not to bother him with signing a book

or engage him in conversation

unless he advanced a word or two in my direction

 

then I would have sat for hours

lobbying for one more poem,

one more word

one more nod

hoping his encore would be "I am waiting"

 

because I would be,

and might go there someday

visit the store

maybe hear his ghost read a word or two

stare at the shelves of poetry books

by so many who used verse

to turn our heads to what had to change

thumb through a chapbook

by a rebel poet who refused rhyme

who spent time

in free verse apartments

with a small black light

for illumination

 

and a few varied thoughts

that might have made Whitman

smile

as he thought to himself

"I started that"---

before there was "that."

 

 

erin-cilberto

10/6/22

Reviews

[Maxwell Ryder]

Good. To steal a modern word of praise from use, which goes against “that” - I say “This!”

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for "this," Maxwell.
j.

[John the Baptist]

Well, old Walt is said to be the father of free verse. Just wrote it down as it spilled out. Poetry, like all else, continues to change.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I write it that way...just spills out...
but yes, everything changes.
thanks, John,read moreI write it that way...just spills out...
but yes, everything changes.
thanks, John,
j.

[Alishba_Anhar]

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It is so amazing .What a masterpiece. Well Done!!!! I wish you luck for all your poems to come up.You are gifted with this talent. Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind words, Alishba...
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I greatly enjoyed this read, my friend. It's an excellent piece. Everything changes. The new becomes old, the old new again, fashion in, fashion out, brilliance in, darkness and drought. "But we are Learning's changelings, know by rote
The clarion watchword of each Grecian school
And follow none, the flawless sword which smote
The pagan Hydra is an effete tool
Which we ourselves have blunted, what man now
Shall scale the august ancient heights and to old Reverence bow?" Oscar Wilde

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and when the rote is gone, what do we have?
just partial memories...but hopefully something written down that might last until next spring.
thank you for your words, Fabian,
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

We have our imaginations and creativity of course. Even parakeets can mimic and we ought to be more than birdbrains.
"Those who their ignorance confess'd
He ne'er offended with a jest;
But laugh'd to hear an idiot quote
A verse from Horace, learn'd by rote."
Jonathan Swift from Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift And perhaps the Dean did have too much satire in his vein but as he said, "no generation more deserved it". I wonder what he'd make of this one.

[Coyote Poetry]

I would have want to drink with Hemingway and I drink with Bukowski. And I didn't know, he was a famous writer. Bukowski was cool. I bought a lot of whiskey and he read my work. Hemingway. I would drink with and I would buy. I would want him to tell me some sage advice. I enjoyed the poetry. In my lifetime. I looked for the great writers in Paris, in New York city and I found some great writers. Hiding in the beauty of Monterey. A outstanding poem my friend. You made the old man mind wander.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am glad you had a good interaction with Bukowski...Besides being cool, what did he think of your work? I have heard not too many have good interactions with him.
I appreciate your kind words on this poem...
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

In was 1989 and he told me. You write like s**t. You need to live more, you need to suffer more and maybe you can become a writer. Bukowski was cool. Very honest.

[Einstein Noodle]

and that is "That" ... read it out loud first off ... a voice, even my own fills empty spaces ... such a comfortable feel to your poem .. a walk down memory lane for some .. others maybe an introduction .. i visited the Haight in the late 60s ... no book stores ... i did make some memories for myself tho ;) wonderful poem ...
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I envy you visiting a place I just dreamed of seeing...
thank you for your kind review, E.read moreI envy you visiting a place I just dreamed of seeing...
thank you for your kind review, E.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

i'm sure your memories would far overspill those of mine ... you have been a poet far longer .. respect my friend. :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh I bet not...and if that is true....your poetic talent and experience shines through...your works inspire me.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Big j. .. love and peace my friend ..

[W. Barrett Munn]

Hoorah, Jacob! A splendid poem. So easily read and so full of interest.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Winston,
j.

[red93]

Excellent Jacob - the Beats were indeed a Golden Generation - may their Words and Works echo forever ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[jacob erin-cilberto]

They always will with me...thank you, red,
j.

[Chris]

We had our own "greater-than-life" figures...we imagined emulating and sometimes - sometimes... did. We were caught up in our times hype and visuals. But we had "meaning" and a sense of cause AND we TOUCHED our dreams even though many flamed-out as falling stars do at night.

And now? So many "mouth" things without a real clue as to what consequence is or means. Tear down belief cause they have nothing they believe in. Meanness is - because they are about "Me's". Our times weren't simpler - really, they weren't. But I think we had hope... something seemingly lacking today.

I did get off-track, but your writing led me down a path I've wandered and my mind remembered its "stars".

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Chris, I do so agree with you. We had hope, we did.
And I am not sure now if it is still there. Thank you for your understanding words.
j.

[Lorry]

I think the best part of sitting in a bookstore is to imagine you are the audience to the shelves contents and feel them whisper in your ear as you fumble their pages.
Love Walts end retort in this one Jacob. Well someone had to have got the ball rolling. 😊

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we are the audience aren't we...and I think we always will be that....and hope that maybe we can write something that is worth an audience as well.
j.