the current reversed

the current reversed

 

 

the avenue figures in the dream

I am falling, no, flying

five stories into a river

as speedboats swerve to miss me

 

you are screaming "I love you's"

over the roar of the motors

and I am drowning in degrees of affection

the boats miss me and hit the bridge

 

between sanity and love

that apartment building looks so far away now

the windows boarded up

I was the last to fall, no, fly.

 

erin-cilberto

6/15/23

Reviews

[Akinlolu]

Your piece reminds me of some of the crazy stuffs that happen only in a Kafka novel. While it's supposed to be a dream, it's a highly symbolic one. What does falling mean? I don't know. Drowning in degrees of affection and existing between sanity and love? Wow! What is the distinction between sanity and love? Is love crazy? So many questions... at least for me. Lots of food for thought here.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Like you, Akinlolu, I have many questions...and not many answers.
j.

[John the Baptist]

A Freudian look at a might have been here. The speedboats are the impediments to a relationship that is no more. When they hit that bridge, there was no barrier between sanity and love. The boarded up windows testify as to the result.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

You always give such thoughtful reviews, John...
very wise...as sung by Garfunkel in "all I know"
there is a lyric..."there's a fine line between the darkness and the dawn"---yes, a very fine line.

[Andra Dare]

My response to this is quite visceral. I love the imagery and the raw exposure of self. Applause!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Andra,
j.

[Nicole Magalonga]

I feel as if this poem speaks about longing for a love you once had, but never had the chance to experience. I think this also talks of letting go of a love you had for someone whom you can never be with forever. There is this string that has to be cut so that the person telling the story will be able to grow and move on further. Moreover, it hurts to leave and let go of a love you never even experienced in the first place. This is just like stabbing yourself at the back. But, in reality, we will all have to go through this kind of love. Painful yet helpful for our personal growth and wellbeing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I agree with your assessment, Nicole...we live, we love, we learn.
thank you for your words,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

Awesome poem. The title tells me how our fortunes change, with or without notices. Between sanity and love a fine line, a fence of privacy.
I feel the writer is sharing some truma in his childhood. Very sad.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"it's fine line between the darkness and the dawn"
thank you, Sami.
j.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You are welcome sir Jacob

[Lydia Shutter]

Flying into love...man the torpedoes? To be truly in love, one has to be a tiny bit crazy...I am sure of that. It is a good crazy though. If the boats hit the bridge, it is not your fault. They are watching your relationship closely...too closely. Definitely a dream sequence. Surrealistic. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I hope we didn't do too much damage to the bridge, Lydi.
thank you
j.

[Chris Shaw]

I sense chaos here in a dream. A right mix up between flying and falling. Love can be like that. Up in the air one minute down on the ground the next. Maybe a reflection on past events.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am doing one or the other, I am sure.
thank you, Chris,
j.

[AYVID N]

It seems like a dream, so surreal yet real. I sense a loss of control, of sanity in relationships, well meaning hearts in situations gone wrong with perhaps, tragic conclusions. There was such a feeling of sadness here. Why do things go so terribly wrong and off course, I wonder often.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I wonder as well, Divya,
thank you,
j.

[FGFRANKLIN]

"All my life I've been too far out, not waving but drowning..." And this was pretty far out as well, having a surreal quality to the write which fit well with the dream vision proffered. I enjoyed the read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Fabian,
j.

[Lorry]

I am left wondering if you just sprouted wings or where you pushed when you flew, no fell! 😊

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Lorry,
j.