the last fitting

the last fitting

an old man

with a frayed pad

and a pen with arthritis

tries to conjure up a thought

to write with the flare

he once had at 21

several words pitter patter in his brain

like comatose raindrops

on a roof of bones

a grave marker 

is littered with luminescent lyrics

that need to be interred as

something poemy this way comes

wicked whittling of wistful inspiration

a house of decrepit rhyme

his time's up

decades deciphered in the din

of desperation

the coffin's outline

is a rough draft

of a book of poems

to be buried

with him

like a favorite suit.

erin-cilberto

4/27/22

Reviews

[Minute Scavenger]

Strong piece. Read this in the morning and already it struck my heart at such an early hour, realizing how imminent the passing of everything is, one of them being the bright speed of youth. But I guess poetry is an outline molded by time into a timeless artefact even when the writer is gone.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Minute.
j.

[Writergurl]

Wow, this is kind of deep and thought provoking, enjoyed this

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, wg,

j.

[Patricia Wedel]

I suppose when my time arrives... I will whisper a few lines of
when I went fishing in the Lakes and Streams... where Fish spawn... and I will Yawn and press my Lips for one last Kiss... of a Poem Devine. gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

not a bad way to go at all, Pat...quite peaceful.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

Thanks Jacob… my Muse is wild and care-free… by the Sea….

[John the Baptist]

Old poets never die, they're just written off. The poet in this one is about to run out of ink and breath simultaneously. Liked the nod to The Bard in stanza 5. Not a happy piece, this one, but it happens to all of us, sooner or later.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate your keen insights, always, John.
j.

[Augustine]

love this. i'm in my twenties but connect with the possible theme you're presenting of feeling youth slip right through my fingers... i also like the idea of books being a coffin. i used to read fantasy as an escape but lately it's felt like i'll find any way to abandon my own life for more immersion in them

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Ceci,
j.

[keith]

'i come to bury caesar not praise him'
we are but a flash in the pan
thanks for reminding me i am old!
ok WE are old ... HA!
a nail on the head jacob nail on the head

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, keith,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Love this poem J. So much in it. The hint of Shakespeare and Macbeth, that arthritic pen, how I smiled at that in an understanding way,. Comatose raindrops on a roof of bones. reminded me of Cat on a hit tin roof :) I travelled with this poem emotionally as well as distance and I thank you for that. Put the coffin to bed though. It doesn't need airing yet.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights, Chris,
j.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I love this remarkable piece and in fact feel a bit of a kinship with it. Does it speak to my own aspirations as a writer? There is a solemnity and sadness in this poem, but I also feel a love. To art that we create in this silence of our days. Thank you J for this powerful piece of pure poetry my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am glad you could find a way to relate, Carlos,
thank you...
j.