a Cardigan Life

a Cardigan Life

 

there is newness

to my oldness

learning about age

as it knits a sweater

of wrinkled fabric

keeps me warm with 

memorable thoughts

has stitching unfamiliar

fits snugly in places

but too loosely in others

scares me when I remove it

and chill

and really scares me when

I realize cannot function

in the cold of latter life

without it.

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/15/25

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

There is something really comforting about hand knitted sweaters and cardigans. It reminds me of my Nan. She taught me how to knit at age five. I knitted for my daughter and nephews. I also knitted for John and myself. Knitted with love, every stitch. I love the metaphor here j. May you always feel warm and loved in the cardigan of life my friend.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, my friend.
j.

[andrew mitchell]

A sweater symbolises who we are and carries those memories and not only comforts us from the cold but becomes an extension of self. Cos everyone has a favourite sweater. Of course old age is like a sweater too but more permanent.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, andrew.
j.

[John Sullivan]

In my corner of the States, the distant northeast, it is our autumn. Our sweaters knit and proverbial. Layers of cloth, more every year... because it just gets colder, despite this global warming thing everyone's always talking about...

Nicely done, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I lived in NY till I was almost 9. It got cold, not quite Chicago cold....but I spent time in Vermont....and it gets brutal in winter.
Thank you, John.

[John Sullivan]

The pleasure, as always, is mine Mr. E.C.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

I love this I don’t like to knit but do like to crochet. Hope you are keeping warm Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Julie...yes, keeping warm...it is 31 degrees today and I am wearing shorts as usual.
read moreThank you, Julie...yes, keeping warm...it is 31 degrees today and I am wearing shorts as usual.
ha ha....j.

[Lorry]

As we hurtle ever so slowly into the winter side of autum, I definitely agree with the newness to the oldness, as every straining sinew groans into creaking movement like an arthritic soul in need of at the very least a can of WD40.
We become like brittle cashmere, that has been misshapen in the wash of life that we didn't even realise how lumpy in places but tight in others we became.
But are we not men Jacob and as men, we do not find the flaw in diet or exercise, but by not being able to fathom the washing machine that have left us feeling, if not looking too like a soggy chamois left out in a bucket of sudsy water. 😆

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, "Brittle Cashmere" for sure.
Thank you for your words, Lorry.
j.