Barter

Barter

 

 

 

I was in a sovereign state of mind

a mixed metaphor

lost in the luxury of words

not tainted with truth

 

let me look into my soul

and pull out a heart,

unbound,

but hiding behind a figurative wall

 

locked in a semantic sanctuary

where 

allegorical robes are worn

with sacrilegious sacristy

 

I can pray for the world

when sorrow is innate

but I shield from the contact

of that sign of the cross

 

that promises

reality,

when all I can deliver

are shallow poems

 

of whimsical woe.

 

 

erin-cilberto

3/7/22

Reviews

[Aluppi Jampur]

I think it's words that win wars. Be it prayers or poems or rational people simply having a conversation. Moving poem

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, words can be the best defense...thank you, Chrome,
j.

[M. J. Smith]

"Shallow poems of whimsical woe?"
Dude! You are anything but whimsical! In fact, you're like Master Splinter. A radical rat! Cool poem. Rather like a short stream of consciousness piece from some San Francisco coffee shop.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, M.J.
j.

[William Michael Reeves]

That first stanza grabbed me. We write whimsical beautiful poetry of seasons and flowers and it is a luxury to not be weighed down by the truth that needs to be written in poetry as well. Subjects can be vacations from reality.

I needed some cilberto. Your poetry is like sandpaper that roughs up the smoothness created by reading the 'vacation' poetry and helps the glue of understanding stick to my synapses.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate that, Bill, thank you,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

At times we can feel helpless when seeing all the pain and agony around us.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, and for your constant support of my writing, Dale,
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

"allegorical robes are worn
with sacrilegious sacristy" Great alliteration in that! Perhaps our thoughts and poems are but shallow representations in the grander scheme of things but they do offer a glimpse at our efforts to understand, ourselves, the world around us and relationships built from human interaction. We can't contain the world in an acorn. There's room in there for an oak tree and that miracle alone may have to suffice. We have proverbs and poetry; psalms and songs that move our souls to aspiring grandiosity but we lack the words to express truth because that is a thing greater and grander than us all. But the effort made shows a spirit reaching up; waiting for a hand to be let down. I'm reminded of this quote by Seneca the Younger, "All my life I have been seeking to climb out of the pit of my besetting sins and I cannot do it and I never will unless a hand is let down to draw me up." We're all in this pit together. Perhaps we can lend a bit of comfort to each other while we are here by reminding one another we are not alone. Your work never ceases to inspire feeling and thought in me. I'd say that's the best any poet could hope for. Bless you, my friend, for continuing to share your words of wisdom and understanding with us all. F.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate what you said, Fabian...
and I thank you for what you shared...I have recently been told that I am hiding behind metaphors and not speaking the truth in my poems.
It is the truth as I see and feel it....but easy for doubts to creep in.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

It's most likely conditional jealousy J. I'd say it was professional jealousy except according to Frost to be a poet is a condition and not a profession. Can you tell I've been watching the episodes of MASH my wife gave me? (laughing)

[Patricia]

I think it’s so hard to imagine ourselves in the situation of others in dire at the hands of madness. Our minds want to push it out and keep living our day to day lives in ignorance because we can’t do anything. This is a very real poem and I feel like this write

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate you showing me how you related to this piece,
j.

[Writergurl]

I really like this write, I can feel feelings that are mixed.
Really well written.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, writergurl,
j.