Expectations and Just the Way it is

Expectations and Just the Way it is

my mom got old

my dad got old

I had to let them go

my silver hair reminds

that I got old

permanence is no promise

God doesn't expect what he made

in his own image

to last forever

he allowed us to be born, getting old

I read a lot of Sylvia Plath

she never got old

didn't give herself a chance to

was she made in God's image

if he were one of us

would he get old?

is his image aging?

I must let me go

God expects that

others will take my place

my mom's place

my dad's place

and they, too, will get old.

or more Sylvias

or Elvises

or Freddie Prinze Jrs

who will never get old.

erin-cilberto

7/3/25

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

I thought of the many talents that died young, both musicians, poets and actors. They certainly burned bright when they were with us and still do. I also thought of my Dad, who shocked me when he was 55 by saying he would hate to live to be an old man. Well he got his wish because he died at 60. He certainly lived his sixty years to the full, packed so much in. And you dear J, may be a silver fox but you have got plenty more poems left in the think tank, no slowing down there or easing up on quality. Still top of your game.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Chris...I guess good or bad, I will keep cranking them out.
j.

[FlatDaddy]

I had to comment below before writing my review; remembering Ed and his continually changing box of our memories isn't the point of your poem, but it's fun to look through that cathode tube with y'all again; however, looking through it can be dangerous, J. and it bothers me when I hear (read) you say,

"I must let me go
God expects that
others will take my place"

A bit scary to us readers, J.; am I reading it wrong? I often do. I know my brain doesn't work like most. But we won't LET you go yet. You're not done with us.
One part that gave me quite a pause is the bit about maybe God is getting old. Maybe so; that could explain why the world, America mostly, is so screwed up. God got senile and started "fidlin" with the knobs on his Big TV and really screwed up the picture.

A very good read, Jacob, as usual.

FD

[jacob erin-cilberto]

No, not done...it is just an idea that came to me.
thanks for the review and the concern...I am not going anywhere...of course we never know when it will be, do we?

[FlatDaddy]

That's why I'm writing as fast as I can!

[carl]

such words of wisdom and to end with humor - hadn't really thought about it but you always think of Elvis still wiggling and twisting to Hound dog. I like your style - be well and stay young as you can - "Don't grow up - it's a trap " Peter Pan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I might grow old, carl, but I will never grow up.

Yes, Elvis on Ed Sullivan...saw that when they showed him just from the waist up....Also remember the Stones on Ed singing Let's Spend the Night together...he made Jagger sing Let's spen some time together instead...those were the days...Thanks for your visit and words, I always appreciate when you stop by and comment on my scribblings.

[carl]

and of course you know that Ed could not make my main man Dylan change his tune selection, so Bob walked. The act I loved was the guy spinning plates on the top of sticks - now it makes a beautiful metaphor for life and also for what we try to do with words - take care sir

[FlatDaddy]

and of course there was Topo Gigio (I'm sure he spelled it differently). My grandma liked him a lot. But I do remember Ed, the living statue with no neck, and all the rest that you and Father Jacob (private joke) mentioned, all the way to the spinning plates. But of course I have to say my fav was The Beatles -- their American birth. What a ride, huh?

[carl]

I was very much anti-Beatles at their birth but came around a bit with Rubber Soul and was full onboard with the White Album

[FlatDaddy]

Yay! They were a big influence on me then. I got into music singing their songs. They were my first (sniff), and meant so much to me. Then came other forms, and by the time I got out I was a very late convert to "Pink Floyd," primarily for their musicality and creativity, but also for their lyrics and style as well.. But I'm into most all of it: Big Band, come on down! Led Zepplin, run up those stairs, Joni Mitchell (my Goddess!), Dylan, CSNY!, Queen, Buble, Scott-Heron -- I could go on for pages! Ah, but we must get back to writing, yes?

[Davidgeo]

As long as we make space there will be something to take our place. Our job is to make space, like our family before us so the family that succeeds us can have a similar canvas. It is unpleasant to know how temporary it is, but we can take solace knowing it repeats indefinitely if we do our part.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

And we certainly must do our part.

[Emunah June.]

Proverbs 16:31 reads ... "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness." (NIV)
Job 32:7 reads ... I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ (NIV)

Point being that life and death are a flowering relationship that moves in quite a circular motion. There are so many ways to phrase it, and we have heard them all, but it never makes facing mortality in its entirety any easier. My mother and father started growing grey hairs a few years back -- its worse in my father, but regardless. I felt a pang of dread when I saw it, for its both a beautiful sign of wisdom and a heartbreaking sign of inevitability. Only a few are so lucky that it should feel they never left.

You poise this conundrum perfectly -- its just the way it is. We may not like it, and many of us don't, but death commands respect. It will come -- and while our belief and reasonings why it comes change, the fact is never changing.

And it is true, as you mention, that once we are gone, there will be others to continue the cycle, but as you have so beautifully expressed here, it is facing that fact that is the hardest. An exceptional read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your very kind review, Emunah.
j.

[Relic]

After watching the coverage of the Texas floods and all the people who've died, including children, sometimes we are given no choice about our future. Silver hair means someone survived a good part of life.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, it definitely can signify survival...or a lot of luck.
j.

[Dennis Wolf]

The problem is that people think that other people die...

God... Well, that's a big label that can mean so many different things, depending on who you ask, but in some ways I think it's fairly obvious that there is something akin to what we might consider "god" in the universe... If not the universe itself... Made us in its own image... That too can mean a lot of things, but aside from the capacity of consciousness I don't think we have many similarities to it, maybe none... But then, consciousness is the single most priceless gift we have been given. To be and experience. And considering that we exist now, that nature, against very slim chances still made this habitable planet and allowed for the emergence of complex life, eventually the emergence of consciousness, it tells me that nature can do it again and again... So, impermanence is, in a way necessary part of the beauty of things. Well, maybe I'm just grumbling again too much... 🤔 Anyway, nicely written

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate your insights here, Dennis.
thank you,
j.

[Dennis Wolf]

No problem. Been lookin for new things to read. Glad I found this one.

[Kady R.]

How sorrowful. But it made me think of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis daughter that also died younger. Never to experience older age. I like how you mentions man created in God image. Very thought provoking poem. Thanks Jacob!!!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Kady...we always wonder what all those singers and celebrities might have accomplished if they had lived to older age.
j.

[Kady R.]

Sooo true!!🤗🤗🤗

[Ms claws]

O.m.gosh J! Here you go again! I was signing out and saw this! Peck my thousand characters password to comment...I must!
Sweetie, we ALL go there. The Bible says "We are born, we live and we die." The choices we make are the defining points.
God is Everlasting. No beginning. No end.
I love how you focus on the undeniable truth. "I must let me go
God expects that
others will take my place
my mom's place
my dad's place"
My kid, when he cannot think of a reason for something, simply labels it, "The Circle Of Life."
Jesus is really all I try to remember is the answer.
Okay! I'm signing out now. With my eyes closed. lol... You're awesome.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you so much for sharing how this poem spoke to you, Eternity.
j.

[Astro]

I think even as there are some that we might call a, "Once in a lifetime or generational talent" we mere mortals have that spark of Divinity in each of us. Some find ways to feed the flame and get noticed more easily as they burned so bright their souls left lasting impressions on those around them, not so much like a tattoo but like music. How it touches us, fills us and transports us outside of time itself. I've no doubt you could do the same and pluck the sweetest notes that would reverberate like untouched youth singing behind the wrinkles and beneath the grey hairs.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Love this reply. Thank you Astro...Underneath the white hair, there is still a seven-year old kid...he IS there.
thank you
j.

[Astro]

You're quite welcome J. sometimes we forget how special each of us are, glad to have helped you remember.