Blameless

Blameless

murmurs

in deep waters

roving sea life

an angel fish dances

to imagined bible verses

floating from a Genesis

eddy

awakened eels

scatter like manna

to feed the masses

and a lionfish

seeks its Daniel

within a den of coral

murmurs

in deep waters

roving sea life

the aquarium waves

part like the Red Sea

the filter turns the water 

into wine

amidst murmers

in deep waters

roving sea life

a testament 

the myths of a religion

schools of fish follow

with a passion

that does the back stroke

in deep waters

with shallow pages

earnest readers wade into

roving sea life

in hopes of heaven endings

erin-cilberto

8/21/22

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

What Jung called "archetypes" Aldous Huxley called the "perennial philosophy". They both rest on the universal need of religion, not as myths to support things we do not or cannot understand but as proof of the spiritual content of human beings supported by the universal effect. There can be no effect without cause. St. Paul said, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 C.S. Lewis said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” I agree with both. But I would add that Christianity is also a sort of transcendentalism because everything physical becomes a representation of a higher spiritual truth to the believer. Christians do not seek the way. Christians know "The Way". Because as Christ, Himself, said, "“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 And, if I recall my scripture correctly, those lions had their mouths closed by the angels, not vice versa.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Fabian, and yes, about the angels and lions.
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

This is a cross between Lenin and The Godfather: Religion is the opium of people who sleep with the fish. Say it ain’t so, Marlon, you cudda been a contender.
Needless to say, I got a kick out of it.
W.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

As Luca Brazzi would think in his water logged mind.
thanks for the smile....
"remember that night in the Gaaaden?"

[Chris Shaw]

I see in this poem people who have strong religious beliefs as against those who perhaps do not support organised religion. . I don't see it as, a criticism, more an observation. Now I will go and check my aquarium to ensure my beautiful angelfish is not in danger by lionfish lurking in the coral. Lots of reference to the bible here and it is a busy poem with much to contemplate J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sounds like you have a beautiful aquarium...I raised tropical fish for so many years...
thanks for your review, Chris,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, we do have a beautiful aquarium. I often sit and watch the behaviour of fish J.

[Nusquam Esse]

I quite like the use of an angler fish which in itself uses a lure, which makes me wonder how it relates to those floating verses. And the use of Daniel and the Lionfish, with imagery of a den, but of coral is quite colorful and creative. I mean, I honestly like how well balanced you kept your dichotomy of themes here. In an ocean of fish, I suppose I am a mollusk, not sure which type though--but I'm not one for chasing the currents regardless.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh no, Nusquam...Angel fish, the beautiful tropical fish...and they are alluring for sure...I think I may be a mollusk as well.
j.

[Nusquam Esse]

Ah yes, I just misread it... wait, are you implying that Anglers aren't beautiful?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

would never say that....my dad taught me to be one....and our best times were spent fishing together.
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Hmmm...lots to unwrap in this one. Do people become more religious as the end of life approaches? Do they go back to the teachings of their youth? Or perhaps you are speaking of the regression of society as a whole. Surely we have taken giant steps backwards lately! In the 60's and 70's we thought we were changing the world....but were we really? Very interesting write here, Jacob. I will have to revisit this one. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insightful words, Lydi....several things working here, yes.
j.

[John the Baptist]

An interesting combination of Biblical imagery and the sea, this one. My guess is that we are seeing a likening of the followers of literalist religion to "roving sea life," a term that appears more than once. Schools of fish are seen doing the backstroke, possibly a symbol of regression. Because the title is "Blameless" I don't this is a poem of condemnation, only an observation of the tendency to take myths literally.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, more of an observation...true.
Thank you, John,
j.

[Stella Armour]

"in deep waters
with shallow pages"
Bible verses and imagination going hand in hand here Jacob ..

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Stella,
j.