the Iceberg Fears Melting

the Iceberg Fears Melting

 

 

a proposal of children

a devil's tooth bites the wound

role models bleed out

 

a cold confluence emerges

siblings feel the chill

they reach out to each other

 

with frozen fingers cracking

in deliberate increments

counting the years

 

before, during, after

with memories

stored in a freezer of amends

 

we try to wink at the past

imagine that good times

are on that ledger

 

but we have no idea

how to add it all up.

 

 

erin-cilberto

9/5/25

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thanks to everyone who reviewed this piece.

I have gone to Starsrite.

j.

[Desert Knave]

I find this one so somber. In my mind, it takes me to watching as my Aunt left us as cancer "melted" her. Anyhow, an engaging piece. ~Jim

[Emunah June.]

I always say I love poetry because you can take it so many ways, and this poem serves as an excellent example of that. I can see so many things that would fit in the vision you have created here, but what I personally get out of it is sibling trauma bonding. In my minds eye, I got the impression of two siblings locked in a tumultuous home, with nothing but their burning agony to keep them warm. The title "The Iceberg Fears Melting", to me, suggests homage to the old saying -- "better the devil you know than the devil you dont" -- because the iceberg knows how to be an iceberg ... it has no idea how to be anything else. Translating that into sibling trauma bonding, I would say this implies the sick safety many siblings feel in a house divided, simply because its familiar to them.

My sister and I, sadly, experienced many moments where we chose the iceberg.

Of course, I could see this relating to alot of things, particularly those of a more social nature, but that is where I took it. That being said, in terms of the poem itself, it is expertly written and carries the reader down this tundra of a journey that leaves them frozen in the feeling you wanted to convey. I am pleased with this piece, as should you be! Thank you so much for the share, its well appreciated.

[Soren]

First I must apologize for not being around lately, I have not been able to get on this site for some weeks due to server error from where I'm at. So I was only able to get on today to post and my responses and reviews are way behind and I will have to catch up best I can if I can continue to access the site.
This poem hits hard and has some great lines "a devil's tooth bites the wound" a wonderful line. Yes role models bleed out so true. And the ending is what seals it for me. The last five lines of the poem says it all.

[redzone]

I don't tink it is ever easy, and perhaps impossible to "add it all up" concerning family drama, whether between siblings or watching parents disintegrate. I was fortunate, my folks were married for more than 70 years and if they disagreed (and I'm sure they did), it wasn't in front of my brother and me.

On the other hand, I tormented my younger brother and I'm sure for awhile he rather hated me. But we did have 'good times' and even better ones for a while now.

In any case, your poem allowed me to revisit these memories. Thank you for this, Jacob. And thank you for such a wonderful poem.
-Curt

[Chris]

It's been a hack of a life. Thanks Jacob, you got it just right.

[K. Louis]

I had to read this several times, and I'm still not sure I got it. It seems to be about growing up with family trauma and trying to make sense of it later. The cold imagery really brings out that feeling of emotional distance. This poem is packed with rich metaphor. Well done.