the glass ever

the glass ever

 

 

 

now,

the draft 

is something invading

through a slightly open window

 

then,

the draft

was something from one country invading another

through a slightly open border

 

at the time,

the draft

was something that invaded families

through a demand of Uncle Sam

 

always,

no choice but to serve

no choice but to swerve

from a positioned life

 

never,

coming home

coming home broken

imprints invading through a slightly open window

 

sometimes,

remembering sanity

remembering the explosion of war

through a slightly open border

 

of sometimes being whole

sometimes being fragments of self

never understanding why

through a slightly open-ended argument

 

at the time

reasons

to serve

reasons to swerve from truth

 

shut the window

turn away the draft

remember what it's like to be whole

understand

 

the border, the frame, the pain

of a window

that never should have been

opened.

erin-cilberto 7/28/23

Reviews

[Pencil in His Hand]

Well said. Clever writing and imagery.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Pencil.
j.

[Pencil in His Hand]

Thank you for your poem👍🙂

[Ayvid N]

The draft seems to be so cold and cruel. The window is best left shut that lets it in with all its discomfort and misery. One understands the destruction of war and yet one still enrols for it, for a myriad of reasons, always coming home broken and empty, rarely achieving the objectives that were meant to be achieved. I could relate to your words on a personal level too, as in relationships. Some windows must never be opened, always kept shut. This was such a brilliant play on words, dear Jacob. You always think of the best ones.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Linked to both.Thank you for your insightful review.
j.

[Soren]

I loved the form of this poem. The continued extensions and circular return to make a point. The use of word play and diverse meanings of words to again draw a picture that makes a metaphor. Well done

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate your words, Soren,
j.

[willweb]

I managed to miss the draft. . . just missed it. Nion ended it a week or so prior to my number coming up. So, in my case, someone closed the window and I am thankful for it. (and still here because of it)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I take we are of very similar age.
I felt lucky to miss it as well....but it was also closing.
thank you, will,
j.

[red93]

Excellent extended metaphors Jacob - Vietnam, Iraq - what next ? Biden is understandably ducking going into the Ukraine because the Democrat electorate won't wear it. And in England the Ghost of John Lennon is still a tangible force for Peace.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, red...yes, culpability. No one wants to accept it.

[Ted Kniffen]

War. What is it good for ...
So many young men ... on both sides ... never returned to their families and many others did, maimed in body and mind.
My father was American and at 21 I could have pursued citizenship, that was 1968. Better judgement took hold and I dropped the idea.
He fought the Italian Campaign in the Canadian army and came back a shattered soul. Old ghosts and booze brought him down at 44 years of age.
Yourr poem is brilliant and pleads with us to shut the window on war.

We won't pay attention.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, better judgement for sure.
I am so sorry that you lost him when he was still so young.read moreYes, better judgement for sure.
I am so sorry that you lost him when he was still so young.
j.

[Stella Armour]

A play on words Jacob and the one being a slight irritation to the other a forceful demand.

Windows of opportunity amd and windows that as you rightly say should never have been opened...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Stella,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob… you have penned the Emotions of deleting love ❤️ from the equation … ordinary people have so much in common … how can we discover Peace and Compromise. gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think we discover peace by compromise...many just won't do that.
thank you, Pat,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob.. I agree… Compromise is a Powerful Word and could be used in Political situations. Our Leaders need to compromise and once again we could Smile. gently, Pat

[John the Baptist]

I recall the draft well. It caused me to order more than one draft.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

enough drafts could even make the draft look good.
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

There was such emotive response in those days, everything was gut reaction instead of thought. Nothing changes, which is the tragedy of the message.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Winston,
j.