Strike a Pose

Strike a Pose

an ominous wind

inside a throbbing chest

nerves of steel

melt into liquid fear

love can be a stoked flame

scorching a heart to ashen disappointment

even in the calm

I loved you like a match

to a matchbook

and flickers still remain

but the words on the matchbook cover

have faded to blur

I am trying to remember you

now and ever.

erin-cilberto

7/24/25

Reviews

[Ms claws]

What a powerful write! If we've ever been scared to the max, this describes it.

I love your use of flame and matches and love...It sure does burn.
We never forget that burn...But we strike that match again.
I love this. Your heart is melted all over these works.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Eternity.
j.

[FlatDaddy]

My oldest brother was my hero and a warrior. He passed away a year and some; even though we had plenty of warning by his lung cancer devouring him piece by piece, his loss, when it finally came, was not the blessing we called it. I have had other losses, but his was the greatest. My wife of almost 34 years, my true love, has had close calls (a quintuple bypass 11 years ago, the worst) and I fear for her every day, that light going out would leave me in the darkest world I could ever imagine. I feel your loss, J and wish you light, as bright and illuminating as you could wish. A beautiful piece, my friend, written by your heart.
FD

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, FlatDaddy and I wish the best for your wife that the light stays lit.
j

[Nathan Allen]

The first stanza sets the background for the next three. The imagery is powerfully poignant and brings to mind specific moments in my life. That feeling of a sudden shift in all of reality where things will never be the same. That feeling of being blindsided. You captured it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, Nathan.
j.

[red93]

Beautiful Elegy JEC, great imaging with the matchbook, you are at the Peak of yr Powers. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind comment, red.
j.

[Desert Knave]

This one speaks to me, as I was just remembering someone close to me, but realized that I no longer could hear her voice ... not at all. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it is painful....thank you, Jim.
j.

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. Great job.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Thomas.
j.

[MCS]

Love is like holding a candle. Firstly, it brightens up the world around you. Then it starts melting and hurts you. When it flickers out, everything is darker than ever, and you’re left with a burn. This brought back some old memories. Well done my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really like the third line in your response, Mary.
Thank you for your review.
j.

[Amanda Renee]

I love all of this poem especially the second stanza, also the last stanza where you are trying to remember because sometimes the harder we try to remember, the faster it all fades away- which can bring us back to your title, "Strike a Pose" so we won't forget.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your insightful words, Amanda.
j.

[Vol]

Jacob,
I am with you, the way time bleaches out toe sound of a once familiar voice, the way her mouth formed words, the crinkle of nose and lips, how their voice was THE presence, always there, always soft, always in THAT chair, whose quiet laughter took the sting out of the day...
So real, so sad...
Vol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, she did all of that and was all of that.
thank you, Vol.
j.

[Gee]

Guess I'm fortunate that my first true love turned out to be the one that I married in '93.
Had many a dalliance back in the day, even lived with one of them, but they all paled into insignificance when I came across my wife to be.
Hope you are keeping well Jacob and the old ticker is behaving:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

The old ticker is behaving okay...not sure I am though...ha ha.
thanks for stopping by, my friend.
j.