Bench

Bench

superfluous rights demolished

according to the book of Adam

the rib is split in uneven terms

when the riots occur

hair will be let down

as pent up emotions

brush against the law

the muscle of cause

the irony of judges' inept rulings

the trial is in the streets now

the pavement absorbing the steps

of prevailing marches, attitude

is a recurring sign of times gone backwards

let's not ply our trade of common sense

but break the laws down to prehistoric

insecurity

the apple is rotting in the first man's hand

as are the scruples that have wormed their way

to the core of equality

and sent us back to a garden

that exists in theory

but has wilted roses

their blooms confiscated

by the black robes

of disrespect.

erin-cilberto

7/28/22

Reviews

[William Michael Reeves]

The apple rotting stanza is ripe! I had this thought after reading this, that the marchers march so much, gridlock brings society to a stop. Excellent poem!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Bill,
j.

[Patricia]

Excellent writing! Outstanding lines! The ending was perfect. The topic is current but will fit any future topic. Wish I wrote it!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind words, Patricia,
j.

[redzone]

you speak truth to power Jacob.... and yes, the streets will be the arena where all these oppressive rulings will be decided.... we stand on a precipice and before us lies either great ugliness and even more terror and oppression, or a liberation to put an end to all this, this system of capitalism/imperialism with one of its foundations being the patriarchal subjugation of women.... back in the day, when women won the right to abortion, the decision was made not because the supreme court saw the errors of keeping women down, but because literally millions and millions of women and men no longer believed in the legitimacy of the government and its right to use force.... we actually had them on the run for a short period of time.... the ERA and Roe V Wade were one oof the concessions made to bring people back into the belief that america was a great country.... but these concessions were won in the streets and in resistance to this and other forms of oppression.... people saw and began to act on the fact this is a dictatorship (with crumbs thrown in) and not a "people's democracy".... I wonder what else must be torn away for people to understand this in today's world with today's youth... for me, that young people are once again taking to the streets in resistance is a wonderful thing, a sign that there is hope for the future.... and it seems to me that as poets and writers, we have a responsibility to assist them with our pens at a minimum and join with them if we are able.... I appreciate your poem greatly and deeply Jacob, because it starts a conversation and without saying so directly does stand with these resistors, at least this is how I read your poem....

I like that line, "the apple is rotting in the first man's hand...." there is an irony there too... god never thought of women until later and then reduced them to nothing more than a rib and dirt a temptress and part of the reason for "original sin".... such utter nonsense.... the point is, you have created words, placed them in front of us to think and come to our own conclusions.... thank you for this...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your extensive review, Curt...and Amen to all you said...
j.

[redzone]

I probably shouldn't write so much on your poems Jacob.... I have never been able to simply comment "nicely written poem" in a review.... I usually find myself expressing my thoughts and feelings and where the poem took me as I read... funny, even my reply to your comment is "extensive"... I'm hopeless Jacob... ;0)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Your reviews really help me to understand my own poems better...don't ever thing they are too long...
I appreciate them...
and if you just said "it's an okay poem"---I would be glad you read it.
j.

[W.k.kortas]

Cleverly constructed, a splendid mix of the wry and acerbic undertones.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, W.k.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Heart sank, yes it has come to this. When I look at some of the decisions being made, I just shake my head in disbelief. We are going backwards not forwards. Stoneage judges, there's alot of them about and in the pockets of politicians too.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, stoneage...thank you, Chris,
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I understand this. Respect of others, their property, rights and opinions is tantamount to civility. If we must disagree, let us do so in respectful debate within the arena of acceptable social decorum. To be honorable is to be respectful and those who have no honor are not worthy of respect.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, and several in high office these days do not garner that respect.
thank you, Fabian,
read moreyes, and several in high office these days do not garner that respect.
thank you, Fabian,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

An interesting take on the fall of this neo-Roman empire. Has the Rubicon been crossed while it dried out in climate change. Will a congressman from Florida be our Caligula? The evils that men do live after them. And we to pay the price.

Thanks for sharing this,
W

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we certainly do, Winston....
thank you,
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

Corruption galore, in our congress, in our democracy, in our courts and mainly the black robes we no longer respect….we have become a protest country, a lawless country, a divided country, with no respect….politicians out for money and now on the run, scared they might get caught…..yes running scared…after a*s-kissing the worst demon of them all….
Good for discussion!
Best, B.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your input to the discussion, Betty,
How are sales of your excellent book Cool Joe going?
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

I don't look very often, but I'm happy with the results so far, thank you for asking...listen, I'm not going to be on the NYT top 10!!!!