the unknown poser

the unknown poser

the photo blushes

from the touch of her fingers

it's an old one from when he was in high school

surrounded by classmates

all trying to look more brilliant

than the next

she rubs her thumb across the finish

and his heart is finished beating steady

as she slips the picture back into the album

his breathing ceases

the moment passes

she sets the book back on the shelf

his pulse reignites

with new fervor

even though she has no idea

who that is in the picture.

erin-cilberto

7/16/22

Reviews

[redzone]

it's interesting to think that somehow we have unknowingly been viewed by someone, whether in a photo with many others, or while waiting in line to order a sandwich at the deli.... how do they see us?? do our actions entice or push away?? in your poem he is moved by her "touch" even though she does not know him... there is both a thrill in this simple act as well as a sadness.... perhaps he might have said "that's me and my friends in the photo, I'm glad you picked it out..." but then when we are younger, thee boldness and courage to do this is overcome by shyness...

it's also interesting after reading some of the reviews of this poem I saw the name "Janis" and immediately thought Janis Joplin.... wrong of course as the reference was to Janis Ian.... so I went to youTube music and looked up the album that was mentioned and listened to 'At Seventeen' and I remember her and this song from back in the day.... the sad part was back then I had sworn off folk music for motown and r&b music and more rock, so her music eluded me.... and after rereading your poem again, saw it in a different light and am now also determined to discover finally Janis Ian and her music....

thanks for sharing the poem Jacob and also to you and W. B. Mumm, thanks for Janis Ian...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful review, Curt...
If you are looking up Janis..."society's child" is a classic of hers.
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

My little girl saw a high school picture of me and said, wow, daddy you are so handsome. I said, I wasn't bad to look at once, now I'm old and ugly. She said, you're still handsome to me, daddy. I guess that eye of the beholder stuff might be partly true. (laughing)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Your daughter is a gem!

[Patricia Wedel]

After so many years... we may remember the Passion;
however the faces are faintly recognizable... We were young and innocent... gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Pat,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

I really like the idea that propelled you to find this one, J. I think it touches something universally not discussed, just as did Janis Ian’s song, “At Seventeen”. Quite an accomplishment. Congratulations.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Great song that was...and a little story, Winston.
A guy I taught with at Shawnee for several years was a musician and singer. When Janis did her new album at the time...Folk is the new Black....he sang back up on one of the songs. What got me laughing when I talked to him about it was that he didn't have any idea who she was or that she had had those hits in the sixties..."At Seventeen" and "Society's Child"---he said she was so nice and humble....she told the backup singers she was going to fire all of them because they sounded so much better than she.
thank you for your kind comment.
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Cool story, J. Thanks for sharing it.