Diploma

Diploma

 

we approached the dandelions

comrades in scholastic weeds

the yard seeming incomprehensible 

but as soldiers of academics

 

we spent late nights 

in the field 

under graded moons

sipping Mountain Dews

deliriously laughing

at what we weren't achieving

 

a.w.o.l. from reason

we had our reasons

education an unmarked grave

outside the classroom

 

and then years passed after

a thinly veiled graduation

with a diploma from nights

of hearts, pinochle, long discussions

missed 8 a.m. classes

and pack after pack

of Winston Longs

 

deriving pleasure from sources

outside of books,

knowledge of delinquent understanding

 

and now years later

I find out you graduated from life

in service to your country,

a grave marked

 

you were a friend

you had a name

you still have it

and in your abbreviated game

of hearts

you shot the moon.

 

 

erin-cilberto

7/6/23

Reviews

[light and ashes]

Quite a write, Jacob.
Well done.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Light,
j.

[light and ashes]

You are very welcome. It was my pleasure.

[W. Barrett Munn]

I never understood those who took school seriously and even less did I understand military service. Neither position served me well. I salute anyone who did better than I with those choices.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I salute them as well, Winston.
Thank you.
j.

[Lorry]

This has a very poignant feel to it Jacob, as the writer sees his own life as a young man, having fun within the youth of education, to later in life seeing his friend graduated from life, in service to his country and you the writer has moved on oblivious to his death, until you read his gravestone.
I am guessing that it stopped you in your tracks and thought of the times together shared, before the heart ache that finding out about his demise brought you... and will no doubt stay with you.
What a wonderful tribute to a friend, whose life took a different path from your own and a very fitting last line that he shot the moon.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Lorry,
j.

[Linda alexander]

Different types of diplomas achieved by systematic monotonal classrooms, diploma from learning from real lives, diploma depicted as graveyard for serving for higher reasons and noble causes but in last diploma mentioned diploma holder can't have that particular diploma when alive which is sad moment but proud moment because of the way he or she obtained moon is shot which makes things less beautiful very hard and not having own life to enjoy or have it even d but if free souls roaming in those graves those souls may still enjoying the all grades of moon and for them moon was never shot and moon still there in their sky

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, Linda,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob… I love the ending… our front yard is full of Buttercups.. somehow it seems to be a Summer of forbidden freedoms.. and yet the sunshine and rain dance to a Moon that will forever be Blue… gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Blue moons, blue flowers...blue rooms, mine was painted that when I was a kid...always my favorite color.
thank you, Pat,
j.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Very touching piece of Poetry, Jacob ...

[John the Baptist]

I notice graves are mentioned twice in this poem, once in the memory of school days past, when education meant less other school related activities and was an "unmarked" grave. The next time is in the present day, when the speaker finds that a friend from school was killed in one of the country's wars. This grave is "marked." The poem captures well the difference between the views of youth and of later life. For most of us, only the years can demonstrate how fragile this trip can be.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really appreciate this review, John,
j.

[Andra Dare]

Stunning, Jacob, and so relatable, conjuring visceral memories of life's dearest unscripted moments spent with kindred souls, who persist within us even when they've left our mortal plain. Much respect!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Andra,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

A tribute here. Sounds very much like a friend from uni days where life’s learning was focused on extra curricular activities. The second stanza describes the time spent. Education was not just about books. What this friend may not have achieved on the academic front was certainly elevated to high status by their service for country. There is a great deal of respect here. You salute them and so do I. Anyone who sacrifices their life for their country has achieved the greatest honour of all. Wonderful piece J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we never heard from him or about him for so many years, then I tracked him down on the internet...left us many years back...was in the Air Force.
thank you, Chris,
j.