a comfortable silence

a comfortable silence

 

he regards the book

as a surprise friend

in his aged abandon

the reckless approach

to poetry a thing of the past

he tenders each word

for the metaphor it is

sublime syllable

the taste of excitement

as each image

pours down the throat

of his imagination

 

there is still life in his eyes

and a chill in his heart

as he perforates his intellect

reading on

page after incessant page

gathering thoughts

a little more slowly than once was

but an incorporated Zest

a glow of rendered enlightenment

he had indeed surmised

retired many sunrises ago.

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/11/2025

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I love books. I mean the real sort you hold in your hand. I only have about fifty or so but I have limited space. I read paperback novels but then they go to donations. Some hardbacks, like Kiplings, the Complete Just So Stories with original illustrations and side notes by Kipling, I consider too precious to part with. A few were gifts like The Complete Works of Shakespeare. A few are genuine antiques over a century old. But they are comfort where they sit and I take them down now and then and flip a few pages. I'm forever reading and rereading the classics. A favorite go to is O. Henry The Fiction with a vast collection of brilliant short stories and witticisms. So many books, so little time. I felt an implied comparison to life as a book or a virtual study perhaps while reading this. So much to know, so much to learn...I'm still fascinated every day. It works well into the "comfortable silence". Very much enjoyed, my friend. F.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

My paperbacks go there as well...I have too many books all over the place here, I think they are going to ask me to move out.
Thank you for sharing....I just love these kinds of replies.
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

That's funny. My brother says if you get too many guitars your wife may have to go. (laughing) But I don't know if his comment was meant to be humorous or cautionary. ;)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Probably a bit of both.

[Art Sun]

Even in silence we find our inner being or voice that creates us into a form of thoughts and Poetry....

Nice work...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind comment, Art.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

what a privilege to be re-awakened ... the aged wine .. (my imagining as I drink beer and bourbon) .. the subtleties of exquisite wood planed, sanded and made to glow with human hand oils ... ahhh ... for me .. this is a poem to revisit many times ... thanks so much for posting, jacob!
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, E.
j.

[FlatDaddy]

Well done, my friend. And I know this is you; no AI could write, "the taste of excitement, as each image pours down the throat of his imagination." Beautiful words, J.
FD

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, FD...appreciate your kind words.
j.

[Lorry]

Slow still gets you there Jacob. I tend to no longer speed through tales either. I tell myself im savouring it and when i look up distracted I tell myself I am thinking about the words, but the time to worry is when you offer the book a coffee as you make yours. I find it best to just keep talking like it answered me and say "well, if you're sure!" It might look like my marbles are loose to anyone viewing but it does make me smile. 😀
And as long as I know it looks a bit mad, then im probably okay for another day or another book... a chapter at least. 😀

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Funny, and I appreciate all of these reviews, including yours. I simply wrote this poem the other day as a warmup to writing a review of a book called, "oh oblivion" by Robert Krut.
An excellent book of metaphorical poetry.
j.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Wasn't it Hemingway who quoted, "there is no friend as loyal as a book"? The most comfortable silence I know!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Either Ernest or one of his six-toed cats.
Thank you, Kelly.
j.

[Kelly Scheppers]

lol, good one!

[Chris Shaw]

There is nothing like getting absorbed in a book and hating it when the story ends. I can remember so well that disappointment when I was younger. These days, it is harder to find time. Yes, books can be a friend. Not only are you an avid reader, but you review books too. And your poetry book reviews are awesome, and they have given you a new lease of life. You appear to really enjoy writing reviews after reading the works of poets. I could never pay to read online. I love that feel of holding a book and turning the pages and marking the pages with my pencil notes. Comfortable silence, you have that. My home is far too noisy lol. I like where I travelled here j.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

me too, on holding a book and turning pages. Thank you so much, Chris, for your kind words about my reviews as well.

[John the Baptist]

Like everything else, our view of writing and literature changes with the years. The "reckless approach" of past years gives way to a more thoughtful approach, looking more carefully at each word. "There is still life in his eyes" as he reads on, a little more slowly, but maybe getting more out of it. Indeed, this may describe the way of those writers who continued to create even into the late decades.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your real, own words in this review, John....getting several AI reviews lately.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks for the headsup, j. Don't know if I could recognize AI if I saw it.

[Brad Dehler]

Retired many sunrises ago. Very nice conclusion. Comfortable silence- such a common consideration for close friendship. I really like this allegory with a nice book. Makes me want to start the wood fire, grab a book and kick up the feet in retirement for the day. Very nice

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Brad.
j.

[Brad Dehler]

Absolutely! I am trying to up my review game. But you are a master at it! I appreciate you sir very much

[Vol]

Jacob,
I get it... Just as someone who writes a poem and secrets it in the back of book in his library, because it's too personal, or too good for the Philistines, but will always be the perfect capture of an important thought and it's attendant emotions...
Much too important to share...
Vol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I quite like this interpretation...thank you, Vol.
I wrote this as a warmup for writing a review of a book called "oh oblivion" by Robert Krut...wonderful book of metaphor...some of it I wrestled with...very intricate metaphor.
j.

[Vol]

Jacob,
I have always said talked about how much I loved to read, would tell my students of the places I've been, and adventures I've had in BOOKS. How I didn't read Robin Hood, I WAS Robin Hood. Or the magic of Larry Niven's Ring World... How you can wade through a shallow story in a theater, but alone in your room with no distractions, a book becomes a wardrobe portal to Narnia... I still didn't get it, though... I think I finally know, it is my language. ENGLISH. What magic! Words for toys! The spells they can cast! Well, you get it...
Vol