the writing on the wall

the writing on the wall

the chaos

of body matters

peaceful nights protested

by ailing elements

carrying signs through our system

blood runs in semantic derision

a grammar of failed gallbladders

in divisive error

broken organs play

fractured tunes

living is a crash landing

dying is a fraction

of a negative number

multiplied by one last edit

the final draft

as our corpse chills

accepted, graded

silencing the protests

and we all get

to go home at last.

erin-cilberto

10/19/25

Reviews

[Jansy]

Jacob, I have to say, reading this felt like watching my internal organs stage a musical while critiquing my high school essays. Blood running in semantic derision? I nodded so hard my pancreas almost took notes. Living as a crash landing and dying as a fraction of a negative number....I’m pretty sure my spirit animal sardine in the tiny top hat just saluted in agreement. There’s a strange kind of elegance in the chaos, like poetry managed to sneak a final exam past our organs and still make it look graceful. I think I’ll need a cup of oat milk and an existential conference with my cat general to fully unpack this, but I love it already.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your very kind words, Jansy.

j.

[Stella Armour]

Jacob, life goes full circle in all living things, growing old is the winding down of a life.

There are, if you think about it so many lovely memories , maybe a few sad ones on the journey we all make.
Life experiences that we can only grow from spiritually.

Protesting, i think comes out fear of the unknown, why be so morbid when even in old age there are so many beautiful things to be thankful for every day.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Stella.
j.

[Vol]

Jacob!
What is up with all of us geezers writing about the end of it all... I think this is the third one I've encountered today... I do understand. For decades I wondered how I would feel when I got this old and death is close enough that I can hear it snap twigs while it is waiting in the dark. I just finished watching a fairly old TV series called "Dead Like Me." I'd never heard of it, but the writing and cast are as good as I have ever encountered... It is on Prime...
Life and death... what else is there?
Vol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, what else is there...I hear ya...I will have to look that series up.
thanks, Vol.
j.

[Andrew John]

Yes, we all wish to go home eventually, Jacob. Nice read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Andrew. How have you been, friend?

[John the Baptist]

Not your basic upper, this one. Yes, those organs do get broken, or sometimes just worn out, and the tunes are correspondingly fractured. Sorrowfully, sometimes going home is only an improvement.

[John the Baptist]

What do you think of the latest communication from Charlie, the one where he claims to have to have deleted all of our previous work? I can still access my older work.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I didn't know he said or did that, but I never compose here. I have all of my work on files on my computer...and much of it in books, greater percentage. I would not trust a website to retain my stuff. And Hey thank you for your kind responsse.
j.

[SM Davis]

Oh yes! Do you remember the great delete?! What a fiasco that was....albeit what 12-15 years ago now. GAWWW.... what a time machine that statement is! I, too, keep everything off line. Books? J? How do we get to read them? I finally published my second. An exciting time.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Congratulations on your second book.

Is it available on Amazon? P.M. me details please.

[SM Davis]

Hi J! I will do just that! You made me smile!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, John.
j.

[ShadesofV]

I read it as a surrender not to despair, but to truth. The "grammar of failed gallbladders" and "fractured tunes" speak of a body that has argued long enough with its own mortality.

I’ve reached the point where I accept that argument’s end! that one day, I too will see the writing on the wall and recognize it not as a threat, but as an announcement that the work is done, the draft complete, and it’s time to go home.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am glad you saw the positive side. Thank you for your review, Shades.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

The title is a strong statement. For me, the poem speaks of the aging process and the “stuff” that continually reminds us that our body is feeling its age and starting to complain. Maybe it’s complaining too loudly and preventing decent sleep which can also create chaos? The poem has a very Halloweeny feel, it’s scary j. I don’t like feeling scared.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am so sorry, Chris...must get to writing happier poetry.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

I was far more scared for the poet and the feelings he was experiencing. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Never a sorry necessary...I appreciate your concern.
The poet is just writing it all out.
read moreNever a sorry necessary...I appreciate your concern.
The poet is just writing it all out.
j.