The Leader of the Free Fish

Wed, Feb 5 at 4:03 PM

    The Leader of the Free Fish

the beats had

          their own pronouns:

Hipster, far-out man

the Dude's writing again.

poetry stuck in his beard

like crumbs of leftovers

Mouth agape with words

almost emerging with diction

his tongue wagging the flag

Oh America

         I Loved you once

but now

         I don't know where

I live

                 that old block 

                          became a throwaway pronoun

like "it" or "its" or

"it's"really something how

we have turned on each other

like angry Piranhas 

destroying an already corpse

that America has become

         fish food---

Chub for the sharks

a Mandolin plays sad

as a nation corkscrews itself

           into oblivion's eddy

the wasteland president

is dumpster diving

into a lake of black water

a Blind man swallowing sand

and flags and other countries

in a monotony of surprises 

day in and day out

he is a hipster, a far-out man

a dude writing again

who has no alphabet

to "bet" from

but gladly gambles

feeding the sharks with

recklessly proseful fingers.

erin-cilberto

2/5/25

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

Where have all the Angels gone when early Dawn becomes a Shadow of what might have been. Why do we Ignore who left the Door open and Invited all the Criminals In. Why were there no Volunteers to keep a Record ... whereby only the qualified were given a Visa. gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

All quite a big mess...lots of blame to go around...
j.

[Sami Khalil]

The sharks are eating the little fish; wading in deep ocean water, drowning the innocent in lies and deceptions.
He was elected a president, not a king; the other unelected crook should stay in his business lane, not trample on the US constitution and lives.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

It sure is a hot mess isnt it?

[Sami Khalil]

It is indeed. Chaos prevails. No clear thinking through.

[Ted Kniffen]

The old Chinese curse "May you live im imtresting timrs" surely has come home to roost. Who was the last good leader either of our contries have had. None of the current ones I'm afraid.

As Arte Johnson's German soldier peering through the foliage would say "Very interesting."

Not sure what we're in for ... but a change is going to come.

I think the suggestion of WW3 is rather humorous ... seems to me Kennedy had the world on the brink a long time ago.

Your words are food for thought ... but the taste is bitter.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

appreciate your insights, Ted,
j.

[emmajoygreen]

Writing subtly yet metaphorically saying what many others would if they could. Your mind is a cauldron of words waiting to be stirred into life, jacob, sir.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, em,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Some great lines j. Very creative.

a nation corkscrews itself into oblivion’s
eddy - best line

The future in the USA? well …. you have reason to worry.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

We sure do...thanks for your words, Chris.
j.

[Poetic Beauty]

I love the line about poetry crumbs stick in his beard. Actually the whole stanza is quite creative.

I agree about the turmoil and sheer idiocy of the state of affairs going on in the USA. I fear we are about to be shark bate.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we are chum...Thank you, P.B...
j.

[Poetic Beauty]

I enjoy reading your poems

[K. Louis]

“The dudes writing again. Poetry stuck in his beard like crumbs of leftovers” what an opening image! I also like how the words jump around the page.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

they (the words) have a mind of their own with me...they just use my fingers to get on the page.
read morethey (the words) have a mind of their own with me...they just use my fingers to get on the page.
thanks, K.
j.

[MCS]

So many images here and all the while I’m asking myself how this did happen
Great piece my friend

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Mary,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

We have certainly become that. Your hard hitting poem speaks the bitter truth.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind comment, Dale,
j.

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous imagery and theme.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Thomas,
j.