I do what I see

I do what I see

 

 

stains on the pavement

stains on the wall

stains in my heart

from tears of strain-

ed belief

 

I am in a strange country

an alien to my own purpose

teaching what now?

how can I face a class

of questioning students

with rolled up banners in their pockets?

 

or....

some with St. Christopher medals

on their conscience

driven to madness at such a young age

 

this is my parents' generation?

who is that man with the shaven head

and confederate flag for a kerchief

blowing his nose into an arching wind

is he a friend of theirs?

 

setting by example

I want to be just like them

I do what I see

 

the next time this happens

I will be first through that window

give me something to smash it with

 

I am a disillusioned poet

I have a degree in disappointment

I wanted to be great one day

 

but now my curfew expired

I want to be just like them

but I can't figure out a title for the poem

the cliff came too soon

 

I don't even remember that I wrote this.

 

 

erin-cilberto

1/7/2021

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

I think America’s core was rocked that day when the incited rebellion hit Washington Capital. As did Black lives matter movement. as did the violence by police killings spree. I think the American dream is over. That’s enough to rock the world of every poet who writes of love and freedom.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your understanding, andrew.
j.

[Lorry]

I dreamt of shouting into the mic that everybody must get stoned, but whether due to feedback or accident, I think it was lost in translation, as the first rock bounced off my head.
I don't remember it either, but it got 3 million hits on YouTube... Just slightly less than my head got the night I tried reading to a crowd 😊
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I did find it strange so many police turned up to explain to me that it was nothing to do with my poetry Slam and that everyone is in lock down.
I do have my suspicions though. Seems too coincidental 😊

[jacob erin-cilberto]

what a wonderful parallel situation you present...
Much like what I was leaning towards...seems this poem is in lockdown and no one wants to get near it. Thanks for taking the chance, Lorry.
j.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

We have such little time to be great and so much time to be disillusioned and drop out on ourselves. I wish there were better things out there because we do what we see and become just like it. A very interesting poem, dear Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your response, Dhara....this one seems pretty untouchable.
but yes, we need better things out there from which to take our cue.
j.