Crackers and Cracked Hearts

Crackers and Cracked Hearts

 

 

 

 

pleasantries exchanged

in mint condition

not worn down with sincerity

 

add these to your collection

of non-committal greetings

passing by involvement

hurried pauses

 

life is an interaction

often acted out

like memorization of lines from a play

that skip reality

for window dressing

 

it's all for show

empty reels

of dialogue

that is so cliche'

parrots repeat it perfectly

with zeal

 

their little hearts

mean it more than 

we do.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/25/23

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

A Parrot can be a friend who will speak as
clearly as you. He only wants a Cracker...
He smacks with friendly Persuasion. gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Friendly Persuasion....great film and song...
can the Parrot sing that one? :)))

[W. Barrett Munn]

It's unusual to see such a clear path in your writing but this is well done. Did even Ashbery write clearly at times? Btw, I like it.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I don't know, Winston...those Beats...so abstract.
thank you,
j.

[Ladysue]

Your poem speaks a sad truth. Great title and write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Ladysue,
j.

[John the Baptist]

Our surface selves collect an array of superficial interactions for use in various everyday situations. Sometimes the repetition gets tedious, but on the other hand, it might be protecting us from what they're really thinking.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Probably is a protection mechanism.
thank you, John,
j.

[red93]

A Poem of disenchantment and disillusion - I hear 'The Scottish Play' echoing somewhere in these terse lines. Excellent ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, red,
j.

[willweb]

Why ask how I am doing when you really couldn't care less? It's nice to be nice but don't overdue it because you think it is what you are supposed to do or feel it will add to your personal adornment...mean it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate this response very much, will
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Crackers and cracked hearts. I have to say I ended a relationship many moons ago over a plate of cracker biscuits. Yes and I poemed it too. Your title took me straight there.

So much disinterest and fake these days In our pc world. I find people too busy to wish to engage in anything other than pleasantries. I started to think about the road I live in. Many people are out on business. I have lived here 40 years and the most you can get out of someone is a good morning, what a lovely day.

Whatever happened to in-depth conversation? Maybe we are all guilty of this perhaps? Maybe sincerity isn’t what it used to be. Much to think about here J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we had them in the sixties...AT SIU I had some friends and we used to get together and have long conversations about everything...then the computers took over and took that away.
thanks, Chris,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Computers. There have been gains, but oh the losses mount up . Face to face conversation fading fast.

[AYVID N]

Everything feels cliched and non-committal, everything seems fake and window dressed and parroted. And whatever happened to sincerity? Yet aren't we guilty of the same sins? Aren't we guilty of window dressing ourselves to a new love prospect? Aren't we often hiding things about ourselves which in all honesty should be told and spoken aloud in the first place? The fact is we humans are all about double standards. We want sincerity, we want effusiveness, we want genuineness, we want truth and frankness and yet if its really given to us we often shun it, scold it and wouldn't know it even if it hit us in the face!
I could go on and on about it but suffice to say, this is a marvelous poem, dear Jacob. Filled with brevity, satire and questions that every thinking person should ask themselves.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and I cannot disagree with a thing you said here...We are all guilty, aren't we?

[AYVID N]

Indeed, my friend and I wish we could understand that and forgive others for being just like us.

[andrew mitchell]

This is somewhat satirical, somewhat sarcastic because it's so true and prevalent in society.its all premeditated, superficial politeness without depth and substance. A nice way of saying get out of my space.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

superficial is such a cruel way to be...
thank you, andrew,
j.

[M]

I agree with your poem and its meaning wholeheartedly; we are living in such a fake world where so many want to hear only the praise of 'yes men' and never want to hear or speak in truths. As we all know, sometimes the truth hurts and we can be crushed by brutal honesty. I feel there are more parrots than people nowadays. Perhaps many have grown accustomed to filtering and photoshopping their words just as they do the same with their selfies. Everything is wonderful within a bubble world of praise.....but it's never a true reality. You have touched upon an idea that is so prevalent in our increasingly politically correct, cancelling, woke world.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I like what you said about photoshopping...ain't that the truth?
thank you for your insights, Makhabat.
j.