Roses Enlisted

Roses Enlisted

 

 

come lift my jaundiced spirit

yellow is a detached heart

love became a battlefield

and I retreated

still running even now

 

until my white flag vision

saw you,

your voice like a command

brought me back to the lines

back into the fight for survival

 

I gladly ran toward the bullets

surrendering to the feelings

immune to the wounds

scarring even as I bled

a casualty embracing itself

 

brave enough

to love you

through the shrapnel

of my former 

pain.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/28/24

Reviews

[AYVID N]

It takes courage beyond bounds to persevere in that battlefield. Most give up. Your love is selfless and deep. This is so profoundly touching, my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for those kind words, Divya,
j.

[AYVID N]

You're welcome always, my friend.

[mou]

'...brave enough
to love you
through the shrapnel
of my former
pain...'
Can something be spoken more beautifully than this.. only you can write this, J
- mou

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that is quite kind of you, mou.
thank you,
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

What a great metaphor here. "Love is a battlefield" comes to mind. New love can erase the pain of former heartbreak, but in keeping with song titles, "The first cut is the deepest." Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

You know I love references to songs.
thank you, Lydi,
j.

[Poetic Beauty]

This is a great way to describe how it is when letting go of previously inflicted pain from heartbreak to let yourself open up to love again. It can be a battle that takes us time and courage to feel those emotions for someone

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, P.B.
j.

[h d e rushin]

I think about Gaza often. Not to the point of protesting in some college encampment (notice the word encampment was once the pejorative "sit in") but just doing my casual "thinking" which takes most of my strength on most days. I wonder whether in the fight for survival, do feelings of love still matter? Can a young man find a girl amongst the rubble and with a bleeding fist take her hand? Of course I am expounding on the metaphor you so masterfully laid before us my friend but I couldn't help it. love this/ dana.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I always wondered when or if there could be protests again like the sixties...
but protests within the protests...and so much hate to go around.
I think I liked the cause better in the old days...one for all and all for one...not this hateful stuff going on now.
thank you for your words, dana,
j.

[Patricia]

this is perfect, real and relatable! opening the heart, vulnerability.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Patricia,
j.

[Kim S.]

Such a powerful, emotional read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Kim,
j.

[willweb]

A strong piece my friend about that desire that burns inside of us if we allow it to glow. The past is the past, eyes forward towards the future.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, will,
j.

[Seriana]

Former pain can definitely stifle further growth. But sometimes the self is stronger than the pain, enabling one to find a place of peace and love. I hope that is true for you!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, Seriana,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Another fabulous extended metaphor. It takes courage after a relationship has died on the battlefield to contemplate another. It takes time for the wounds to heal. Often they don’t. The scars remain and still bleed. It takes bravery to go there and yet we do. I did. I never thought I would give up on finding love. I knew it was out there and I was right. Beautiful poem j.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Chris,
j.