Double Jeopardy

Double Jeopardy

 

 

 

freedom is a supposition

accrued from an existence

in a country where it is allowed

as pretense

 

but chains are genetic

and a society swollen

with prejudice

is sworn to a secrecy

found out

 

we live in our own prisons

of hate

solitary confinement

sitting on a bare cot

of judgement

 

imposing our will

with imperceptive hearts

we lie wide awake

staring at bars

we created

 

visitors are now extinct friends

who shed tears

on the jail floor of our

poverty of acceptance

 

we could have loved

and there would be no sentence

we could have embraced

and there would be no suspended metaphor

 

no scared participles

dangling with fear of oppression

the cells empty of ill will

 

Love

is the barrister

working pro bono

 

no charge for grace of character

no charge for reaching out a hand

no charge for a heart

changing by six degrees of separation

 

into one soul

no division

just a fusion

of individuals

acquitted by a jury

in approved retrial 

 

as peace

becomes the 

eventual verdict.

 

and a certain calm

pervades the courtroom

as supposition turns to 

exposition

and all sides are free.

 

 

erin-cilberto

12/31/22

Reviews

[keith]

one could say 'if only'
peace is such solution for the ignorance of man
'if only' we could learn from ourselves
'if only' it could work
the price of peace is everything we hold dear ... everything we hold

the ole nail on the head jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, keith.
j.

[willweb]

Kind of a dark and sad poem about an existence that seems to follow more people around than any of us cares to admit. If I have this right, then I believe the person or persons of whoever is sitting in this cell probably has no idea why they are there, unless they have since read your poem. This poem is laced with good advice that most want to listen to, but something stops them. We judge, we hate, we point, we scream, we chase, we cancel...will we ever be free? Very deep my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, will,
j.

[Zoe Richardson]

I would add that poverty of compliance is a far more confining prison than that of contention. It is human nature to disagree, to advocate for one's self. All of life is conflict and strangely enough, I have made my peace with that. It is better to speak up for what is right than to mutely accept what I am told in order to avoid it. This world is not a peaceful place. It never has been and never will be. People are not full of love and kindness, putting others before themselves. Those who wait for human love to change the world will wait in vain. I have learned that freedom is more important than love. Strangely enough, knowing this allows me to show others love and kindness. I admire your words, and the longing behind them. Live free, my friend, and love for others will follow!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really appreciate this review and your insights...
thank you for taking time with this poem, Zoe,
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I must admit I don't really know what this one is about. I read it several times. I know I'm certainly not in any sort of prison. I feel free and at peace. In fact I value my peace so much that I simply do not tolerate the disruption of it. I'm old and I have zero patience for drama. I don't argue with folks. If they want to argue I simply point them toward the road.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

then you won't need to be in court, ever.
You have a really good attitude and philosophy of life.
I feel very similar even though I wrote what I did.
but as poets, we do that.
write from perspective of others.
thank you, Fabian.
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

So this is about a court case then? Yeah, I still had to go. I had "jury duty" but luckily the suspect and plaintiff worked it out (I think it was a civil dispute) but we all (about 60 of us) got sent home and are ineligible for jury duty again for two years, YAY! They even sent me a $16 check. (laughing) But I was wondering...if a jury is made up of twelve...and they brought in sixty people...it must mean that only 1 in five is acceptable...must be getting hard in today's society to find ("12 good men, honest and true") I'm somehow not surprised; saddened a bit but not surprised.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

well, metaphorically...it is.
Yes, only one in five...that is crazy.
Happy New Year.read morewell, metaphorically...it is.
Yes, only one in five...that is crazy.
Happy New Year.
j.

[John the Baptist]

A rather grim picture here. Yes, there is a lot of hate afoot these days, a lot of mistrust. But is this a permanent phenomenon? You remember the 60's as well as I do, They were wild in their heyday, but they ended with a whimper, not a bang. Likewise, this too shall pass.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

let's hope so, John...
thank you for your review,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Jacob, you seem to be channeling John Lennon, of whom I had great admiration. I don’t understand how something as easy as caring can be so hard.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I don't understand that either, Winston....

just don't.

thank you,
read moreI don't understand that either, Winston....

just don't.

thank you,
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

There are many forms of poverty; but by far the worst is poverty of the soul/ We have become an intolerant bunch where I am right and you are wrong and there can be no middle ground.

We have locked ourselves in, clanging tin cups against steel bars crying out in monotonous sobs
that they are getting more than me when what we really need is a hand up ... not a hand out.

The Right is seldom left ... just as the Left is seldom right. But it seems no one speaks for the Centrist willing to compromise. What a friggin' joke we have become.

Good one j.
Happy New Year

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your understanding review, Ted,
Happy New Year to you...let's hope this one is better.
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

We can only hope.

[Patricia Wedel]

I understand that some States are representing what the Citizens want and not what this Administration has forced upon us. “We the People” is still written in our forefathers Documents. The President should be reminded of that Fact. Evil has entered our way of Life.
Your poetry leads us in the Path of Decency. gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Pat....yes, lots of disagreements on politics and what nots....
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

Borders and accounting are so Important. How could we have permitted a President to orchestrate so much damage in a short Time? Others in the past have contributed to the Confusion; however this Regime has wiped out years of Progress. Sadly, Pat

[Tom]

' Love

is the barrister

working pro bono '

indeed, indeed, well said in fine, expressive, poetic metaphor poet Jacob, without love there is no hope!!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Tom...
j.

[dotty]

It's a poem worth for everyone to know about such brutality of the harmful weapons like technology in our hands and sometimes the misuse and miscommunication that occurs breaking apart families and lovers. Hope love prevails again and soothes down the world maybe once more.
-dottydisappoints xx

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I hope the same, dotty,
thank you,
j.