Turning Backwards

Turning Backwards

A Poem by jacob erin-cilberto

Turning Backwards


old man 
in the infant's car seat
straggling the road of life
with baby steps
drinking aged wine
by the bottle
trying to find something
in the vintage
to have made his life worthwhile

his recliner reclining like his motivation
movement is for others
he just wants to move his eyes
to the screen
and watch
reruns of shows telecast
when he was in his youth
when the road extended before him

now it is after him
and death is the drunk driver
ready to unplug his TV
as it skids over the goodbye
indicated
by his mapquest directions.


erin-cilberto
9/3/24 

© 2024 jacob erin-cilberto


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Sometimes you can't trust anything even the GPS. Yes Jacob such an apt summary of age looking back. How to find something in that aged wine to make it worth while. Those rerun memories Wow! what a portrayal of where we go and where we arrive. Lovely Jacob

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

Thank you for your very kind words, Soren,
j.
Very very tight comparisons here (bottle for both wine and milk, car seat vs recliner, old man straggling vs baby steps, etc;), and I love the poetic conceit of the road through each stanza. What is most sad to me is that it appears the ultimate "goodbye" is present and printed out for him, even before death skids over it and his directions. I think that is more painful than meeting death before a goodbye is given by others at your memorial that you are obviously not present for. I never enjoyed "comfort media," aka replaying songs, movies, games, etc; purely for the nostalgic comfort until my early 30s. I think at that moment, one is ready to have children. And at the moment where "comfort media" is no longer comforting, one is ready to die

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

Thank you for your understanding review, Jon,
j.
The aging process is awakening in us all. We have more of our life behind us then what's left ahead. I intend to squeeze every minute like a tube of toothpaste. This one hurts my heart, but in a good way. You're just too good for definition!

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

Yes, much more behind us..thank you for your kind words, Kelly,
j.
bundles of metaphors J, that are so appropriate to the concept here... so many great lines...turning backwards is what I see in this person...the aging process...where one goes the wrong direction....imagine a full grown body in a car seat for infants....re-runs of old telecasts, the slow recliner..mimicking the pace at which he exists....death stalks him...lost in his shadows where map quest will no long function...
Warmly, B

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

Thank you for your insightful words, Betty,
j.
Betty Hermelee

2 Months Ago

you’re very welcome J.
warmly, B🌷
The Silver Screen is our memory as we recognize the places and the romantic rendezvous with Stars that stole our Heart ♥️ before the Last Tango.. I caress the Lips that Sing 🎶 when Violins 🎻 play Porgy and Bess as Sporting Life steals her away to New York… and thunder and Lightening become the Music 🎶 of Broadway…. 🎭 Sugh.. Pat

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

thank you, dear Pat,
j.
Not exactly a recruiting poster for old age. As I look hard on 79, I try to avoid the reruns.

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

that is a good idea...to avoid them.
j.
Hi Jacob,

It hurted me when as a kid you keep on biting me with your teeth, it was ok, seeing you as a baby, thinking you never grow, but few baby steps which are making to fall are frightening me where you are not listening what you see and feel it, then it makes sense for me to stop watching you tv, so that you dont look at bad stuff. You are best there is no better than you even if people blame me that i am harsh i say there is no breakup between mother and son relationship. I know how both miss each other. So this time is temporary lapse not to hurt you but just make you understand how much i am missing you, and you ask me do you really love me then i say when did i hate you and there is no need to ask to a mom do you love your kid. And to me my son is my love life breath. So dont neglect or ignore what you learned, and there is no age coming in between mother and son, no beauty lost, even after 60 yrs still mom is mom only to son no matter what she her skin turn to age. Son will never hesitate to.kiss or hug. But people hurt you saying mom is burden to you then you hav to decide whether you bear her but there is no breakup.

Mom will never leave or divorce her son hope you dont forget this.
I love you
Missing you

I dont like the dp i want to see your smiling face.

Jessy Jacob.
🩷

Posted 2 Months Ago


0 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Big fan of the internal rhyming and homonym, obviously, as it peppers my own work.

The ending, MapQuest, skidding goodbyes and TV dinners...

A classic work, neatly tied together with vintage callbacks.

Well written...

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

Thank you for your kind review, apennylate,
j.
apennylate

2 Months Ago

Of course...
Cheers!
Yes. There comes a time when the trip is over, even if life is not. Nicely worded. ~Jim

Posted 2 Months Ago


jessyyjacob

2 Months Ago

You dont look so knave as your name suggests. Dont oil the firs it will harm you that oil is burning.. read more
jessyyjacob

2 Months Ago

Fire** they ** when you dont understand its not a lesson**

Above typos corrected. <.. read more
So heartbreaking. So much hopelessness in so few words.

Posted 2 Months Ago


jacob erin-cilberto

2 Months Ago

thank you for your words, Senu,
j.

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Added on September 4, 2024
Last Updated on September 4, 2024

Author

jacob erin-cilberto
jacob erin-cilberto

Carbondale, IL



About
Originally from Bronx, NY, I live in Carbondale, Illinois...teach English at a community college and have been writing and publishing poetry since 1970. I am here to read for inspiration from other po.. more..

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