a line of nervous trees

a line of nervous trees

 

 

it is almost late afternoon

in the middle of the night

screams in downtown L.A.

thicker than the smog

or the smoke from wildfires

 

Marines stand at attention

with quizzical faces

and unready weapons

fear of indecision

molded to attack

 

now standing like sentries to protect

maniacal confusion

arrested tempers

handcuffed soldiers

watch restlessly

 

the crowd crosses lines

deftly, silently

moving their intentions

in deference

to the King

 

the subjects become objects

of defiance

the castle has crossed the court

a usurped miscarriage of justice

all of the babies destined to die 

before they are born

 

sworn skin illegally housed

in the womb of what 

used to be humanity.

 

 

6/11/25

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

I can’t help thinking there are many lines of nervous trees across the world at the present time. You have written here about the state of play in LA but the chaos could equally apply to the chaos elsewhere. We have our own brand of madness over here. Topical write my friend. We live in weird times. Oh, for the simple life.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Madness, madness everywhere and not a drop of sanity to drink!

[butterfly]

This is a wonderful and interesting view of the stranger days we are experiencing in the USA through a line of nervous trees. Thanks for sharing another excellent read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you again, butterfly. Your extended visit is appreciated...now, to your page go I.

[andrew mitchell]

It’s political correctness gone mad, throw in some chaos, some control, a big splash of social media, fake news, real news and you get one nice Molotov cocktail. It’s an angry world of little values.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, andrew.
j.

[MCS]

Reading these words, I find myself nodding my head and asking how it got to this point. Then it comes to me that the orange abomination is settling the score. Good stuff my friend. I’ve taken a break from all things orange because it brought out the very worst in me.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, that color is bringing out the worst in me as well...thank you, Mary, I think I will have a tangerine. Those aren't exactly orange are they?

[MCS]

Jacob, tangerine is a natural hue, the other is as fake as the one wearing it. Therefore, you should be safe.

[Buddhistboy73]

An interesting poem here my WC friend,,,

Kinda reminds me of Donald Trump out to put those nervous soldiers in the line of fire for his own purposes...!

A usurped miscarriage of justice indeed...

Good to read this today....

BB73

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, BB73...appreciate your slant on this.

[Lorry]

Absurdly unreal, seems to be what we are becoming in this, the joke without a punchline of real life ™️ (patent pending)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, without a punchline for sure...thanks, Lorry.
j.

[Desert Knave]

Stark and scary. Nicely worded. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Jim.
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Excellent piece, Jacob

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, my friend.
j.