Gardens and Pretenses

Gardens and Pretenses

 

 

the bed sheet is colored in flashing neon

her tears powder blue

ocean wrinkles on sad cheeks

 

muffled cries she tries to stifle

another night, another man

another sign

 

her life will eventually evict her

from herself

her beauty will fade

 

into a night among many

she hopes to forget 

when the sign shuts itself off

 

or she shuts down

when the sun exposes her soul

for the wilted flower it's become.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/22/23

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

I’m reminded of Brigette Bardot, a beautiful woman but menopause and age has taken that look to die for away.it’s a cruel fate to get older, beauty wise but we count our blessings to have reached that age, it just creeps up, turns up at your door and suddenly your there. A bit of a b***h really!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, a very cruel fate...
thank you, andrew,
j.

[John the Baptist]

I don't know if this one is based on a real person, but the picture presented is that of an aging party girl who has heretofore gotten by on her looks. Now seemingly in early middle age, she is seeing that change is a real and relentless force. Unless she changes her values, the future does not bode well for her.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I always enjoy how you journey into the poems on this site...thank you, John,
j.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

It saddens me that any women is compelled to do this. In most cases, I think it's poverty or drugs. Either way, it's desperation. I think particularly of those women in third world countries. They have little opportunities for money and the culture is such that it doesn't allow for much success. Your poem captures this sadness well.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Linda...
in ways poets are similar for various reasons.
I appreciate you,read moreThank you, Linda...
in ways poets are similar for various reasons.
I appreciate you,
j.

[willweb]

those of the night, the shadows and the neon lights flashing though the faded curtains, stained with nicotine and lost dreams. Why do they do it...the easy answer, money but the real answer...maybe the desire to be wanted...regardless. Nice one Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, I believe "the desire to be wanted" is one possibility...
thank you, will,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

Life is never fair Jacob.
"her life will eventually evict her
from herself
her beauty will fade"
The above lines. All of us become. I enjoyed the complete poem and thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Jacob.

[FGFRANKLIN]

I used to press roses from special occasions and keep them for years; dried memories or reminders that life can be and has been sweet, I saved birthday cards for the same reason...you wake up one day and realize people are gone. But you have those dried roses, those birthday cards; it's not much but you treasure what you can. The soul loses dignity in loneliness and the mind loses sanity in pain but every face I see reminds me that there goes another life with stories I haven't lived. There is sadness anywhere there is injustice and injustice is everywhere. More people are trying to recover a time when they were happy than are out there trying to make now a time when they are happy. But there ain't no future in the past.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I have saved many birthday cards too...especially those from my folks who are gone now.
yes we treasure what we can as we try to make a new happy.
thank you, Fabian,
j.

[Ken Simm.]

We all know them but few are able to describe them so well. In fact we sometimes fall ourselves.
An ultimately tragic write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Ken...appreciate your visit and your words,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

Some live a life of make-beliefs, others take the reign of reality and make many sacrifices. Not sure if the make-believers want the easy way out, only to find out they had many roadblocks. Hard to judge, but life is so complicated for the initiated...
Excellent sir.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your insightful words, Sami...you are so right.
j.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you kindly. You are welcome sir Jacob.

[Chris Shaw]

Touching write J. I saw two distinct scenarios with this poem. Both are tragic for her. I wondered why she was living her life this way. People have choices, they don’t always make wise ones.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Chris,
j.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

beautiful poem here Jacob
HOpe you are well.
really enjoyed this one

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Julie,
j.