red faced embarrassment

red faced embarrassment

 

 

dad's razor 

cut my ambitions

the bleeding found me

bandaging what confidence

i hung onto

as i waited to get old enough

to shave my own esteem

more carefully.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

10/17/24

Reviews

[Lorry]

Ah, this takes me to my youth, the only time i was eager to shave, despite the razor burn and that feeling macauley culkin portrayed so well in home alone when young face meets dad's aftershave!
Now I shave only when I'm forced too, but I still like the change from hobo to clean shaven about once a week! Ah those anger filled days of youth and caring what I looked like! 😃

[jacob erin-cilberto]

So once a week folks will come up to you and say "You clean up real nice!" ?

I hate it when people say that to me....I want to wipe the floor with them.
thanks, Lorry,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

A simple thing we wanted in our youth Jacob. Now I must shave daily. Not so fun no-more. Thank you my friend for sharing the amazing poem and a memory.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I trim my beard...ha ha.
Yes, I remember wanting to be able to shave.
My dad was always perfectly clean shaven until his last two years...then he grew a beard and looked like an old poet.
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

I rarely shave Jacob. I like a hairy place now. Good to become the poet.

[Marie]

Sounds like a painful first time experience, dear J... An excellently inked allegorical gem! It will strike a memory with many readers! Parents are strange beings, they can help one's confidence to grow or cut it like a lawn mower! Great write! Thank you for sharing, dear friend...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Marie....they were great folks and did their best....but at times...it was a bit demoralizing what they said.
thanks,
j.

[redzone]

OUCH!! For the cut and for the esteem.

I remember the first razor I used was that double-sided razor. It was easy to cut yourself and come downstairs with small pieces of toilet paper stuck to your face. "I am a man, see my red badges of courage". LOL.

You and Emmajoy are allowing me to venture into long ago memories today. Thank you Jacob.
Curt

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Emmajoy sends me into memories all the time...
her work just does that to me. It is like she is showing me myself in a mirror.
Thank you, Curt,
j.

[Soren]

My dad was a razorfor my self esteem as well. His past achievements were hard to live up to With many WWII stories and decorations, An athlete, chief engeneer for a worldwide copper mine and many harrowing stories of near underground disaters. It is only after his yardstick was buried that my esteem started to grow.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

My dad an engineer also.
Thanks for your understanding but sorry you had to deal with same.read moreMy dad an engineer also.
Thanks for your understanding but sorry you had to deal with same.
j.

[mabel mae]

but the cuts stay forevermore.
i understand the addiction here, j. what a rough way to live. you cant stop after the first hit. you js sit and hope for recovery.
great job. -mabel

[jacob erin-cilberto]

what an interesting interpretation....i like it and it fits so well with the words.
Thank you, mabel,
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

Fatherhood and Motherhood is a tough road to hoe. It's a play by play as one goes with many mistakes and some successes at it. In my life anyway. Unfortunately there are those who don't strive and do, do harm to their own children. I love the analogy with learning to shave. I have always used a Bic and when my wee ones happened upon me shaving and wanted to try, I just lathered them up and gave them a Bic with the cap on. Still had to be careful of the corners on those babies. It seems they were around 2 or 3 when that happened. I didn't have a beard to speak of at all until I made it past 17 or 18 and then I was out of the house ... so me Da had little to do with my shave experience ... love the memories and empathy for children harmed that your poem inspired in me jacob!
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I love what you shared....thank you, E.

[Patricia Wedel]

My Father became Brilliant when He Shaved.. Whiskers can get in the way when we Speak poetically. Smoothly… Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah yes...they can or they can actually hide the real us and bring out the poet.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

The Movie “Shakespeare in Love” is a fairly new Classic from twenty years ago. I trust you have seen the Comedy. 🎭. Pat

[apennylate]

Was not planning on interacting with this site for a few days, but I saw this and had to say...
Shattered my shoulder on June 1st, and have been in recovery since, had to move back in with my parents after 15 years.
Has not been the happiest time of my life...
Never got along with them, especially my father.
You have written better, but personally, this may be my favorite.
Thanks for continuing to write, mate.
You are one of the main reasons I continue to check my cafe feed.
Hat off.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, apennylate,
j.