Sylvia, Anne asked me to send you this

Sylvia, Anne asked me to send you this

 

 

 

Anne Sexton called me

from her car phone,

her GPS had broken down

and she needed directions 

 

to heaven....

said she had been life driving long enough

curious to see what was on the other side

she started inhaling the fumes

but got lost in her reasoning.

need to get back on that highway to hell

 

in the end her windows got too smoky

it got in her eyes.

lungs

then prayers

 

she thought of Sylvia one more time

before she passed out

with her chin on the steering wheel

as she drove to heaven

 

with no hands

and just a bland reason

for ending her book

 

when there were many more

poems to be driven onto the page.

 

finality is a checkered flag

and hers had stars clothed

in carbon monoxide fabric.

 

 

erin-cilberto

 

11/14/21

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

I know how much both of these poets mean to you. Their demise by suicide, devastating. You will always be mourning the loss of what they didn't write. Both of them lost their way. If only they had a route map out of the shite :( Felt the loss here J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Chris,
j.

[Ruth]

Oh my goodness - oh- my - goodness! Being a Plath and Sexton admirer, I can't put into words the sheer brilliance of this Jacob, wow...just wow. This is one of the best poems I have ever read...truly. Both so tragically entwined, influential to the other, the darkness feeding off both and yet a light shone on both and through both...amazing poem, really is! :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I did my Masters thesis on these two and they were fantastic inspirations to me as a poet and writer in general.
So, I really appreciate your kind review, Ruth...
j.

[Patricia]

this is very sad, so many poets have ended badly, it seems almost pre ordained, a package deal, genius another word for severe depression. sad so sad, but a brilliant write my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Patricia,
j.

[barleygirl]

This is beyond brilliant. You smashed it out of the oven. I'm so jealous! (((HUGS)))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Seriously, you never need to be jealous of my writing...you are so damn creative...
I like the oven reference...ha ha, thanks,
j.

[Fran Marie]

Like the highway to hell
mention AC/DC..so sad
they both chose suicide
hell, they seem to have
lost their way. last stanza
has killer lines ( no pun intended)
which sums it up nicely,a great
write on these two exceptional
writers..

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind and understanding review, Fran.
j.

[shadrach hah]

Hi Jacob, is it not so sad that people should bear such hidden pain that they take their own lives? This is always a tragedy, poetry often speaks of pain and we see it only as words, poetic expressions. I find it as the greatest sorrow when pain comes before me. A wonderful write my friend, the sadness sings. Have a wonderful Wednesday....Mike.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind and understanding review, Mike....yes these two were the subjects of my Masters thesis and even though I was saddened, they were such interesting poets...I loved learning more about both.
j.

[shadrach hah]

You are welcome Jacob, I am glad I came by this one. Have a wonderful evening....Mike.

[John the Baptist]

Depression seems to be an occupational hazard with poets. Not sure why that is. The urge to create can be born of joy, but too often, pain is the parent.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, "pain is the parent"---and the real parent just doesn't want to know the worst and looks the other way.
thank you, John,
j.

[Relic]

It's funny how these poets told everyone they wanted to and were going to die through their poems and people overlooked concern because, afterall, they're poets.

I'm sure there were some who knew of their past and worried.

When a famous poet writes about death in detail through metaphors or similies, I suppose that's a cry for help in the only way they know how to do it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think so...and Sylvia's mom just didn't want to see what was there staring her in the face...she and Sylvie were too much a like.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

It’s a shame good people that are troubled in need of help, end there lives by suicide. Considering it is a thought that would pass , if they just held out to the next day they would be still alive. And so Anne joins Sylvia in a poetic tragedy. Nicely composed as always J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, andrew....they were the subjects of my Masters thesis...I gained much respect for both.read morethank you, andrew....they were the subjects of my Masters thesis...I gained much respect for both.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

Wow! How sad!

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Interesting poem. I had to look her up, though I've heard her name before. I think it was creative how you described her writing, 'driving onto the page'. It really captures hot we need to vent. tyfs

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, most poets commit suicide on the page, with the pen...not literally...though some can't seem to write away from it.
thank you, Cyprian....appreciate your visit and words.
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

Two bled life, unable to cope
the bell jar finished in oven fumes
the bell-ringer gone
in her mother's old furs
solo in her car
exhausted.

This maybe a little glib perhaps, but those deaths were needless nonetheless.

Good write j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wish they hadn't felt it necessary...either one.
lots of poetry lost...
exhausted is right.
thank you, Ted,
j.