Woolworth poet

Woolworth poet

I don't use them ten-dollar words much

mostly the five-and-dime kind

a little simpler in the head

but I write 'em as I feel 'em

When I try to get too deep

no Academy Awards for performance

or plot

just giving what little I've got

to get the words by you

hoping to matter

I just scatter thoughts

then retrieve them randomly

when I get to the checkout

bag 'em myself

(one of those kinds of poetry stores)

I would rather be waited on

but then, I am waited on to write something worthwhile

like putting together a model airplane

with pieces that don't fit

what do you expect when the words

come from a cheap shop

of cheap shots

of sling shots with broken bands

and poems that are off brands

the kind you get for less

but didn't some wise guy

or wise a*s

say "less is more"?

erin-cilberto

5/31/23

Reviews

[FGFRANKLIN]

This reminded me of the late Texas nightingale, Nanci Griffith and her song, Love at the Five and Dime. If you don't know of it, give it a listen. You might like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GK462XnRjQ

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Fabian...will check it out.

j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I can see why it did remind you. I am not a country fan in general, but like some...and she has a beautiful voice and style...really like this song.
thanks for sharing,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

You know I miss Woolworth’s. I was so upset when they closed their shops over here. Woolworth’s were forever there. Such a loss. I’m all for value for money poetry and poetry that’s accessible. If there’s one thing that turns me off is poetry that is crammed full of words I don’t understand. I am happy to learn but not to keep the dictionary constantly by my side when I read. I’m more than happy with economical worded poetry. Economical is good in my book. Somehow J, I know I am way off the mark here. This must be something topical to your world.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Nope, spot on...Economical is best....pretentious/ inflated will get flat very quickly.
thank you, Chris,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Maybe he was talking about Les Paul and the song "More"?
Every time I look though a collection of poetry, no matter how great the poet, I notice that there are only a handful out of hundreds that are really, really special.
You would think that would be demoralizing, but I find it hopeful. Maybe I still have something to say, I've just yet to say it in the proper way.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we strive to write the masterpiece poem, the one that might forge us into poetic memory...
but can we ever achieve that? maybe not but the journey has to get us somewhere.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

Yes don’t fall for the gimmick, one word fits all. Making sense of it all. I don’t mind poetry being a dreamscape of images that don’t conform to marketing of true poetry. It’s off the grid.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Ha ha...Louis Anderson would agree with you.
j.

[Ken Simm.]

I loved Woolworths. Stole a tube of glue from Woolworths on a dare. This poem is about our lives. your and mine. Not today but the many varies of yesterday. When we were the high st, the small ness of the small town and the lack of anything approaching guile or misintepretation or arguements that become just I'm better than you. We all shopped in the same life.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you so much, Ken. And I am afraid this review might have gotten you in trouble. The people who owned that Woolworths are reading this as we speak...:)))))

[Robert Trakofler]

LOL, there is something to be said for thrifty word use:) often those are what I am forced to use, being somewhat obtuse, and also I have more than a few screws loose:/ The worst is when you buy those off-market irregular-sized words that never quite seem to fit!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, brother Bunny....you make me smile...
j.