the torch passed

the torch passed

grandma lived with red headed

uncle Fred

in a very old apartment

in a very old city

not far from the George Washington Bridge

that crossed the Hudson

with the aroma

of sunken ships

old Jersey shores

my dad's yearbooks on the shelf

keepsakes for God sakes

the smell of age

and overs

and then so many years later

a different bridge

the same aroma

deer grazing in the yard

a pond at night

the sound of age

calling to each other

under bed sheets

cries of loneliness

mumbled calls to

Jersey in the distance

a father's father from the old country

orphaned and left at Ellis Island

as the welcoming committee 

is one statue with a torch of hope

flickering in greeting'

a father's tears

a mother's passing

the old country so distant now

only photographs carefully place in an album

to hold

those people--- now just images

the world was very close once

and it was small,

but now

continents of grief

separate us

and I wish that torch still burned

to welcome back

all of those lost in the translation

of life into the language of death.

erin-cilberto

8/22/23

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

I wish that torch would welcome more people into our country.... the way it used to be... good old Ellis Island, home to so many getting off the ships...it was a close world then... neighborhoods, people chatting, etc... now we lock people up who want freedom....no more welcoming parties to those who need it so much...the change is enormous....how to handle it is beyond me. Now it's a big complicated world.
PS going to the old City tomorrow to see family! I''ll wave to miss Liberty!
Warmly, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Give her a wave for me, too, Betty.
thanks for your reflections...yes, so different once.
read moreGive her a wave for me, too, Betty.
thanks for your reflections...yes, so different once.
j.

[duff]

I lived in New Jersey so this brought back memories. I really like this. Nice work Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, duff.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob… there was a time that was slower.. when there was some semblance to security. Now it is helter skelter. I hold the photos and smile… knowing our grandchildren will carry on. tenderly, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, The Beatles knew...they understood.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob.. you are a Treasure Trove of poetry and song .. to pen an epitaph of folks from the Old Country.. who were so Brave and resourceful. softly, Pat

[W. Barrett Munn]

Seemed to me you opened a vein here, Jacob, and bled the past. Very emotional.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Winston...felt emotional writing it.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Fantastic write.
Loved this

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Julie,
j.

[Anushka joshi]

I felt very nostalgic and words were very visualising. I feel like with every passing decade the meaning of these words will have a completely different effect on me and I'll have different visualisations and thoughts.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Anushka, I appreciate your sharing.
j.