the Cardinal Sin

the Cardinal Sin

 

 

 

hesitant reaction

constant extraction

the streets in traction

caused by one faction

 

impotent leader

bottom feeder

civilian bleeder

crazy hate seeder

 

the angry garden grows

the scarecrow never thaws

city on fire, glows

mass extinction sows

 

flowers bend

lives end

we can't pretend

the prayers we send

are just more ashes 

to shudder behind the sashes

 

of those hiding shadows

who scream silently

in a very dark place

where a face

is blown off violently

 

of those hiding shadows

charred flowers

and dead sparrows

the red bird of agony

sings a happy tune

from deep in his marrow.

 

 

erin-cilberto

3/13/22

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

Man's sins are innumerable and sometimes countless against himself and fellow man. The crazed egoist in Moscow is on a genocidal mission. It tells me he is paranoid about NATO and Ukraine joining it. All he had to do if he did not like that is cut off relations peacefully or recall his ambassador from those states. He lost on all fronts now even in the court of public opinion.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"Peacefully" seems to not be in his vocabulary.
I really appreciate your words, Sami,
j.

[Sami Khalil]

So true and well said. You are welcome sir Jacob.

[knighngale]

oh wow, Cilberto, a crazy time, LOL the inuendos are strongfelt. A heat of passion: extraction, fields, narrow, and more! You 2 cute! :D

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, knighngale,
j.

[knighngale]

most welcome dear, :D

[Lathen Griffiths]

A fast paced piece here Jacob that keeps the reader on their toes, poignant and extremely relevant,

Lathen

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Lathen, your reviews are very encouraging.
j.

[John the Baptist]

As I recall, there was a Filipino Cardinal some years back whose name was Jaime Sin, but I don't think this one is about him. The dark imagery here, reminiscent of Poe, can only be about that wild and crazy guy, Vlad the impaler. The words really do conjure up the horror that is taking place in Ukraine now. It is, as you say, " a very dark place."

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, John,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

A truly great poem about the destruction in Ukraine that has decimated everything, adults, children, homes, hospitals, schools, and more. The faces on these people show the agony, the fear, the terror in their eyes; The desperate attempt to flee, with almost nothing.... the bleak future they fear. The longing to return. Prayers won't help; but we must keep these brave souls in our hearts and minds. The mad man in Russia needs to be taken out! Thanks for sharing J.
Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I agree about that last comment...thank you, Betty,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome J
Best, B

[Patricia Wedel]

"the Red Bird of Agony"... not many Cardinals ... recently...
Life seems so Temporary... "where have all the flowers gone...
long time passing". Graves with their dead ... get flowers.
Spring should be a beginning... not an ending. Broken Wings
cannot fly... only cry.... Amen... Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"not cry, only fly"---thank you, Pat,
j.

[Aluppi Jampur]

This is very powerful Jacob.
Very powerful - 100%

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Chrome,
j.

[Crowley]

Sickening, yet history is a cruel mistress and we as a race don't seem to be able to shake off this need to destroy over and over again. Addicted to drama, needing to stand on another back to elevate ourselves. The subject matter is sickening, the writing is anything but. As usual, you point the way with the turn of a phrase.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I know, it is driving me crazy writing about that situation, but I cannot seem to get a way from it.
What is mostly on my mind, our minds...so sad.
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The only way to deal with crazy people is to lock them away or be crazier than them. Aggression will always continue until it becomes too expensive to the aggressor. Bullies only understand one language.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and once a bully is knocked down, he or she will often back off in the future....someone has to have the guts to throw that punch.
thank you, Fabian,
j.

[andrew mitchell]

The ugliness of man , the cruelty of man, and the greed of one man. To think while I write this amongst my comforts normal men, women , children who just want to live peacefully are being blown to pieces and for what I ask.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Cruelty, ugliness...this one is flying over the Cuckoo's Nest...and needs a labotomy .....thank you, andrew,
j.
j.