in the California Tabloids

in the California Tabloids

 

 

 

 

the grass turned eccentric orange

a blaze of insane blade

 

trees became instant kindling

for the deity's rage

 

in the asylum,

curdled leaves begged for lobotomies

 

burnt brains of nature

sought refuge in death

 

there was a village,

then there wasn't

 

and in the aftermath

no one spoke at all

 

no one dared

as Mother turned the other cheek

 

and tried to restore her good name.

 

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/22/19

Reviews

[Jimmy Yetts]

California appears to be experiencing an incredible run of bad luck.
Unfortunate environmental conditions and government mismanagement have not made things any better.
Out-of-control fire is among the worst of disasters.
Outstanding piece of work, Mr. J!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i know...Mother Nature is losing the battle...fires, earthquakes...one thing after another...
thank you for your kind words,
j.

[kentuck14]

I know a person here in Kentucky who lived in Southern CA and had to deal with those fires. Scary stuff!
Nicely done piece on its destructive nature.
T

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it sucks....i have a couple good friends who live in Glendale and Mt. Shasta...and the one in Mt. Shasta has had to move a couple times because of the fires...
and the other in Glendale, who used to be married to Gordon of the Peter and Gordon duo...has had the fires come up to within a half mile of her place.
j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind comment, T.
j.

[emmajoy]

Tried to leave a review earlier! Feel that this could highlight one of two thoughts: the way in which the media creates news by exaggerating every issue - as with the recent horrific fires , in order to make a few extra bucks OR using the word Mother: could be Mother Mary, the all-caring and loving protector to whom the masses pray for deliverance from eg. fires/their aftermath but, the prayers went unanswered. Perhaps. A fine piece of writing, as always, j., but maybe need think some more.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like that idea of Mother Mary....I like where you took this...thank you for your posing, em.
j.

[Corset]

when we think orange when we see the hills ablaze, same as with fall and the turn of leaves, it takes a village to raise a child, or one attentive mother, I'm not sure where you were going with this one but I imagine I would have needed to know which tabloid article inspired you, though it seems to give the impression that a mother left her children to escape the fire herself in some way, often a mother in nature will abandon her children for self preservation, humans will blame themselves for the survival instinct and feel survivors guilt when unable to save them herself. It makes me wonder what if ...and what would one do when faced with the flames...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

what a great response....excellent insights into this...i like this interpretation...
thank you, Corset,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

I can't pretend to understand the Californian tabloids, but there is certainly much destruction being implied here. Orange is a key word for me here, so I am thinking politically. Your couplets are full of powerful imagery. A strong write here Jacob.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Chris
kind of went two directions at once with this one.
j.

[John the Baptist]

Interesting title here considering the horrors mentioned can now be seen as easily on CNN as in the National Enquirer. Being of a certain age, though, I do miss the amazing batboy and the face of Satan in the clouds above the capitol building.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights, John...
j.