allow for the variables

allow for the variables

 

old engineer

solves equations

with a well-oiled mind

 

looks at poetry 

with the skepticism 

and sarcasm

 

of an old engineer

who has mathed his way to the top

of the units he climbs

 

construction

his bailiwick

deconstruction 

mine

 

now an old poet

raised by that skeptic

I have engineered memories

he'd be proud of 

 

as I finally solved the equation

of what he meant to me

all of the variables lie dormant now

but the solution

matches the letters I wrote him

but never sent

 

love can defy gravity

engineers may write a poem

and poets might engineer

a solution to life's question

 

why Have I Englished my way

to the bottom,

maybe Dad can figure that out

 

and give me the answer

when we meet up 

on the next unit.

 

 

erin-cilberto

1/31/2021 

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

well if you worked your way to the bottom then you have a few more feet to dig to get down to my level:/ I can say with absolute certainty that your father is smiling down at you from his lofty position! I have been lucky that my dad has read my words and is impressed he says he doesn't always understand them but he enjoys them for 4o years he didn't know about my closet poetry until one day he found a published piece and now he gets mad if i don't send him my latest:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

but isn't it cozy at the bottom? did you bring the beers?

I think my dad is smiling...I hope he is....
The only time my dad really complimented my poetry is when I did the PBS show Studio A Cafe...and did a poetry/blues duet with my clarinetist friend Eric.
It was fun....and we got our own half hour special during the last year of the show, after doing several short segments on the program.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

oh wow, I wish I could see that show! any links? that would be awesome to see!!! P.S. i bring some of my friends homemade wine

[Helen]

I have a skeptical engineer father too, and always felt his knowledge was superior to mine and that he disapproved of me / found my way of living and being inappropriate / inferior. I recently did write and did send a letter opening up to him about who I am and my life experiences and I included a poem. It was a scary thing to do, but I wanted to connect in a loving and authentic way. Showing him my poetry was a particularly vulnerable act for me, a declaration of "this is who I am" made with the expectation that he would disapprove of me or even reject me for it. His response, however, was perfect - loving and accepting. It was short, but sweet - perhaps reflecting his discomfort in the emotional zone, but to my delight part of his response was to say "I was particularly impressed with your poem. I think it summed up the essence of your situation perfectly". Love really did defy gravity.

On a slight tangent, I recently wrote a poem about on how the two (logical / creative, emotional) can come together in one person (specifically the poem is about how writing poetry at the weekend on writerscafe opened up a creative channel that improved my day-job as an analyst) - Left brain / right brain working in tandem ('analytical lyrical')!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am so glad you could convert your father...getting that bit of approval even though we shouldn't need that to be okay...really makes a difference.
Which poem of yours is your reference...I would like to go back and read it.
j.

[Helen]

Thank you J.

Yes we shouldn't need it but it meant the world to me

It is called Analytical Lyrical

[John the Baptist]

I can somewhat identify with this one, since I suffered from math anxiety, or maybe math terror, in my student days. Engineer types cannot conceive of such a thing; everything fits in place if you use the right formula. A poet with an engineer dad must have made for some interesting experiences, but as the poem states, love can defy gravity. And a good many other things, I might add.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, he always asked me what I could do with poetry..."Can you get a job in it?" He would ask.
read moreYes, he always asked me what I could do with poetry..."Can you get a job in it?" He would ask.
Thank you for your words, John.
j.

[Miss Sharon]

(as I finally solved the equation of what he meant to me all of the variables lie dormant now but the solution matches the letters I wrote him but never sent) Too many of us have drawers filled with those unsent letters Jacob. Mine are also tear-stained. Excellent writing my friend. ~Sharon

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your understanding review, Sharon,
j.