Offering

Offering

 

 

 

October is slithering in

trees in dignified foliage

worship the deeply halcyon skies

 

pews of Maples blush

as the gospel is red lining

and the sacrifice of summer

is lying on an altar

of burnt orange

 

incense burns bonfire blue

Winter is knocking on the door

daring us to peek through tomorrow's monocle

 

to embrace the chill's bristling nature

hold tight the waning light

knowing a shortness of breath

and vapor smiles

 

will disappear

under the first snow

 

when the mass ends

and the final hymn

sung 

 

to a desolate congregation

of headstones

silently leaving the church.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

9/28/19

Reviews

[gram linski]

all hail the winter, everything is beautiful because everything is dying as a Capricorn I do appreciate the colder things in life

[jacob erin-cilberto]

me too....thank you for your words, gram
j.

[Lorry]

Those days, when we start mourning the calming seasons and realise that it's time for all those added layers we need to protect us from the biting reality that although equally inspiring, fill us with a shudder as we picture upturned collars and down turned eyes, rushing past instead of the amble of summer and spring, which is required to keep our engine and inner workings from freezing.
I am spending all my spare time practicing the art of hibernation. Well, you never know 😀
Beautifully expressed words Jacob, that insist on being read slowly and pondered... Hopefully from the comfort of a nearby open fire.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your really kind and insightful words, Lorry,
j.

[Lorry]

Most welcome.

[Coyote Poetry]

Amazing description written my friend. I love the season of Fall. Thank you Jacob for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Pryde Foltz]

A wonderful expressionistic seasonal poem. The imagery is superb:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Pryde,
j.

[kentuck14]

J,
Must admit this is a very clever write! If autumn is also called the fall of the year . . . then the "FALL" is seen in this poem . . . it's why people seek the "good news" (gospel) knowing death (winter) is just around the proverbial corner. Enjoyed the images in this . . . especially the final stanza. Congratulations.
T (How the hell did I get 5 points out of that????!!!!)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, T.
j.

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Many things are changing faster than expected..winter seems to be on its way faster than autumn not really allowing correct change to take place..world is rushing ahead of itself with no reasoning to offer...🌹wonderful like always🌹

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Kelly,
j.

[R.E. Ray]

Clever title for this original work, J. We're now seeing all the images you described in your poem, and the devil has appeared in the Ohio Valley this weeked, tormenting us with mid-90s and humidity, daring us to curse the sun and heat. Yet, we all know what you write here, as the reverend rises to deliver the benediction. It's all but over.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah yes, don't dare curse the sun and heat...it will come back twofold or more...thank you for your words, R.E.
j.

[kentuck14]

Too hot here in Lexington, KY . . . the gates of hell have been left open like the door of a wood burning stove!

[Chris Shaw]

The church is empty. How I felt that emptiness. It offers nothing in comparison to mother nature. You brought me the splendours of the fall. The intense colour of the maples in autumnal months. I am reminded of how you love Vermont at that time of year. There is dignity in this wonderful setting, there isn't always dignity in what takes place under the roof of the church or indeed religion. There is shame there. I felt the chill of an advancing winter, both the season and age. Jacob, I love your work. There are so many layers to unwrap. It's like opening a Christmas present reading you :)

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we find our religion in certain places...not always with others under a roof once a week...Mother Nature is the best church sometimes...thank you for your kind words, Chris.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Alarm bells rang and my hackles raised at slithering October. A cold wet feel on skin as we brace ourselves for the fact summer (life) is drawing to a close and perhaps, just perhaps there will not be another springtime. You treat the reader to amazing allegory as always Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

but we can hope for another spring...we must....
thank you for your kind review, John.
j.

[Rhayne]

Fall season came in quietly and quickly, seemingly overnight, making one think that winter will be coming early. This was like stepping outside for a moment and suddenly noticing everything about fall all at once; the color of the sky, the different shades of blue mixing in with several shades of yellow, red and orange. How the sun looks like it's lost its heat and silently dying into the fire it's leaving behind. The smell of fireplaces in the air, along with the remnants of burning leaves. All these things trigger the mind to feel a chill coming on. You go inside to get warm just ahead of the winds picking up; winds that jar a loose door, making it sound like someone knocking. You feel as though if you look, knowing it's just the wind, you just might see snow falling because seasonal change is so rapid. You don't want this day to end so soon, hold on to fall as long as you can because if you blink, the next thing to see will be snow cover. Knowing that Winter is the ending season for outdoor life, you wonder if you, or how many of your old friends, might not survive another cold winter. You think of those from the past that have already gone on from such a fate and the last time you saw them all together was in your favorite meeting place, church; the place where they now rest. Thinking ahead, that you might be joining them soon.

Beautiful words to describe a beautiful act of God, j. I'm a winter born who loves spring and fall, new beginnings and change.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for sharing and for your very kind words on this piece, Rhayne.
j.