the scales are bent

the scales are bent

 

 

please don't cry me a river

just buy me the river

and float my boat

with your insincere flattery

wrap your swollen arms

around me

in fabricated affection

you are my affliction---

i will swim towards

you forever, knowing 

you have a shark's heart

in bluegill pose.

 

 

erin-cilberto

7/27/25

Reviews

[Ms claws]

o.m.gosh, J. I love to read poems in the dark after signing out at the end of the day. Rarely, I see one I have to sign back in and comment, my password is notoriously L-O-N-G.
As soon as I read this, my lights switch was hit! The emotions from start to finish are decimating! I want to take her (or him) and shake them! "DON"T YOU SEE THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU!"
So stunningly beautiful, Romeo!
"i will swim towards

you forever, knowing

you have a shark's heart

in bluegill pose." I didn't get this part...but it's impact is awesome!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a dangerous person posing as a little innocent one.
Thank you for your kind review, Eternity.
j.

[Ms claws]

J. Yes! I get it now! Thanks!

[Lorry]

Insincere flattery is nice to hear but should be followed by a klaxon going off in your head and the words "how much will this cost me" written in 96 point bold on your eyelids.
At least that's what I used to think before settling for the far easier "yes dear." 😃

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ha ha, thanks for the smile, Lorry.
j.

[John the Baptist]

Has the sound of compulsion, this one. Yet many do seek after that which they know on some level is bad for them. Such stories usually don't end well.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

No, they often end very badly...thank you, John.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Ouch, that shark’s heart has left a mark in these lines. Insincere flattery and fabricated affection speak volumes here j. The scales are surely weighing heavy in one direction. Balance required.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think the Moody Blues came up with that when they titled their album "A question of balance"---read moreI think the Moody Blues came up with that when they titled their album "A question of balance"---
Oh, can we ever achieve it...so many obstacles keeping us from doing that.
thanks, Chris.
j.

[DIVYA]

Dear Jacob, I'd rather have no praise than insincere, mechanical one. It feels like a slap in the poetic face. Perfectly stated, my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Maybe if we pool our monry we can buy that boat.
But sail on a different river than the subject of this poem. Thanks, as always...for your reactions to my words.
j.

[DIVYA]

You're welcome, my friend.

[ms. barrie]

i know i always sound redundant with my thoughts upon
your poetry. however, your word weaving, and succinct imagery
never ceases to amaze me! a most relatable topic, always written
in your remarkable, unique way.

thank you, for sharing!

~ barrie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

very kind of you, barrie....
As I always say, I feel more like a conduit...the words come through me, but I am not sure I am really that creative...just lucky.
thank you,
j.