Emotional Research

Emotional Research

 

 

half a face

no other cheek to turn to

half a heart

no lover to hold onto

 

the blood of becoming one

still traveling

through the veins of poets

with half a pen

to write with

 

half a concept

like a hanging indent

on a Work Cited page

with half the sources

necessary

 

to understand

a citation-ed self.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

12/16/19

Reviews

[Attentive_Ambience]

I enjoy how this poem allows readers multiple threads of interpretation. I find that my thoughts stray to mapping out the juxtaposition of life in an academic capacity. The last stanza struck a cord, as I recently had to cite myself - it felt as though an out of body experience, to a point. It brings to mind this question: Will I ever leave my mark on the world, or in fact, is it the world that will leave its mark on me?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think that is a valid question...in ways the world has already left its mark on me...but the other half of that question...is to be determined.
thank you for your insightful review, Ambience.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

that's when the outside influence can be a torture Jacob I find the voice in my head is never satisfied with a write but the crave rages on those on the outside are just background noise in comparison to the voice in your head the important part is that the voice in your head doesn't stop then be afraid brother poet:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, bunny....

[Lydia Shutter]

The cross all writers bear....will we be cited? Will our words be remembered? After being rejected many times, self-esteem and confidence fly out the window. The emotions are self-destructive. They beat us down till we have only "half a heart". Lydi***

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for these insightful words, Lydi.
j.

[Jimmy Yetts]

More familiar with the two-faced rather than the half-faced.
Those with only a single cheek are, at least, less cheeky. And when you've been rejected,
half-a-heart guarantees less future hurt.
While my comments may be half-assed, your poem is completely masterful.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

great comment, Jimmy...
you made me think of the Batman character. "two-face"
but yes, half a heart only gets hurt half as much.
thank you,
j.

[Cassie]

Jacob I like how you deliver your messages through poetry in a witty way, your poetry makes me smile

[jacob erin-cilberto]

then it's working..because even with my dark stuff, i always write it with a bit of a sardonic smile...hoping the reader can get one too.'
thanks, Cassie.
j.

[Cassie]

yes its working

[andrew mitchell]

Its funny we are forever growing while forever forgetting , must be some parallels here to keep the balance.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i wish there were...thank you, andrew,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I believe all go through those points in our lives where we feel something is missing in our lives. That is why we should always be searching for new experiences in our lives and not be complancent with what we already intellectually and emotionally.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, many quit looking for those new experiences and get complacent...sound insight from you as usual, Dale.
thank you,
j.

[Eilis]

Ahhh, your research lingo brings back the tense memories of my masters level coursework. Putting together those works cited pages is like a project in itself.

I really like the way you play with unexpected cues and metaphors to create a sense of things. The thing that really hit home for me with this one was having only half the necessary sources to flesh out the research. I understand the importance of that from a research point of view, and in life as well.

If we are talking about companionship, wishing/waiting for the other half of us can be a painful trial. And if we are talking about a broader sense of belonging--as in not really having the background to understand where we come from--this can be another type of psychic pressure.

Your second stanza makes me feel that we are talking about love, however, and the things we haven't quite found closure or satisfaction for. The ones that got away or that were never found. Perhaps both. I suppose so much of poetry is a kind of emotional research where we are seeking to fill in those missing sources and better understand our experiences.

Excellent work, as ever, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

quite the insightful review, Eilis...absolutely...
thank you for your words,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Half of something is better than nothing at all. I am left in suspense like that hanging indent pondering on your meaning here Jacob. If you look inwardly and you are only half the person you want to be, you have room to manoeuvre. I am a glass half full person, so I would not be too downhearted here. I would have something to play with. Something to aim for.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like where you took this, Chris...
actually, even though my poetry may not show it...i have always been a glass half-full person myself.
thank you,
j.

[Margie F]

I love when a piece causes me to pause and consider, "What was this writer feeling when he/she/they wrote it? I've read it five times already, and I know it will stay on my mind today "Like a hanging indent," with the rest of the story yet to be told.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i appreciate your words, Macy...thank you for your review,
j.