the lunch menu

Inspired by Starbaby's "old friends and the W.C.

the lunch menu

I am picking through the trash

behind Writers Cafe,

and even the throw aways are good

once I wipe off the misspellings

and the cutesy rhyme

until they slant towards my pocket

where my bottle of inspiration

is wrapped in its paper sack

along with the few poems I was writing

before I got too drunk

to walk my pen steady

Some of these are really good

I could go on a bender drinking these

gems in

but then I would wake up in some gutter

probably rousted and almost dead

all my poetry gone

my bottle of inspiration empty

and the flies buzzing around

my titles

hoping they can get through screen

and drop fly dung on them

before I get them posted

Oh to be a poem on the wall 

watching all of this

instead of a maggot crawling over

dead syllables

and long lines of postured writing.

I can only imagine

a day I can afford

to actually go inside the Cafe

and meet some of those poems

the ones put in a doggie bag

after all the readers were sated.

erin-cilberto

11/22/23

Reviews

[Desert Knave]

LOL. I have been scrounging through a large plastic tote full of things I started and set aside ... I have found quite a few worth saving, but many more that just belong to the maggots. Very enjoyable write ... the imagery is quite sharp. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we can both feed the maggots...thanks, Jim,
j.

[Tania Mo]

Interesting so much.My poems all end in dog bags. The maggots party.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank God for microwave ovens.
Thank you, Tania,
j.

[Starbaby]

Awww, look at that! What an honour to have inspired you to write such a fine poem. Of course you know that I am cheeky enough to now say
" Reading his words now
I can't help but wonder
is it me he thinks of
when he writes?"
signed with a big wink! Star/LA

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your inspiration..and your "Cheeky" words.
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

I don't like to read or edit my old work. I see too much weakness.
"Oh to be a poem on the wall
watching all of this
instead of a maggot crawling over
dead syllables
and long lines of postured writing"
I understand the above lines Jacob. Good evening from cold and rainy Michigan.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

It's similar weather here...thank you, Coyote,
j.

[Stu. T.H.]

Quite an innovative way of seeing, author Jacob. In that same logic implied in your work, perhaps then we are all both servers and customers by day's end, not that I mind that.
And your work give me an idea, to personally label works to works, poems and poems as a sort of taste. Your works, in that sense, are quite suitable for a fulfilling "meal", a fine read that is, while works of other writers can very from being sweet delights to accompany one's groumet moment, orr a cup of black, bitter coffee that raises thoughts on one's mind, or a cup of tea that soothes one's exhausted soul, such are so varied.

Innovative work, author Jacob, and a fine read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Stu...I hate coffee...Ugh.
j.