the ravens huddle

the ravens huddle

 

 

 

lightning says

"I will crack your fortress in two"

 

thunder rises in speeches

of braggadocio

 

the branches on the ground

dead

 

a voice harmonizes

with a cold heart

 

lightning tries to explain

but that quick flash of reason

has been and gone

 

and then another tree is hit

and another and another 

and

 

soon, the world is a yard

with only burnt grass

and no shade.

 

 

erin-cilberto

3/4/26

Reviews

[FlatDaddy]

Our "lightning" would love to crack a fortress or two, if even our own, and the thunder would most likely let him if he can somehow pin it on the the former boss; but if our trees start exploding willy nilly, it won't matter whose voice sang harmony, and there's just not enough shade for everybody unless we all move to the grand canyon, and most of the shade would be our neighbors.
Scary writing, j. You have anything about kittens or penguins?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your insightful review, FD.
Appreciate you.
j.

[Lighthouse]

This can only remind me of the contention between people and their beliefs. Whether that be political or religious. The same venom is often applied with similar results.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, LIghthouse, it's like that.
thank you,
j.

[redzone]

there have been 5 distinct extinction events in Earth's 4.5 billion years history, all have been caused by the Earth itself going through its evolutionary development, except for that asteroid. But we have now crossed into the tipping point of the 6th, and for the first time caused by human beings and their unwillingness to make the changes needed for species survival. WE and this system of economics and social relations, demands we keep on going, keep on being the lightning with thunderous voices destroying everything in the name of individualism, global markets and self-righteousness. But hey, isn't this the best of all possible worlds??

Your metaphors are as sharp as those claps of lightning and roars of thunder, Jacob. Apologies if my walking through your yard of "burnt grass and no shade" has made me go off..... again. I tend to do this when a poem speaks truth to justice to my heart.
-Curt

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your insightful review, Curt.
j.

[Curly Grace]

A stark, storm-lit warning.
The world scorched, the shade gone... your imagery hits hard, j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate you feeling that.
Thank you, Curly.
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Mother Nature can no doubt warn us of omens to be. We just need to listen with our eyes

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"Listen with our eyes" that is what our readers do with our works, is it not?
Thank you, Cowboy.
j.

[Desert Knave]

The ravens have gathered and the flies are not far behind. Yeah, a lot of ugly in the air today. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

We are all soon to be roadkill.
Thank you, Jim.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

The ravens huddling make me feel a shudder. There is an air of foreboding in your lines j. There is certainly a storm brewing. The mother of all storms. You bring me stark imagery. Burnt grass and no shade and my imagination has just run riot. A stark outlook indeed.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, Chris...thanks for understanding this metaphor...the storm is raging now and no end in sight...we have no chance to shelter.
j.

[Michael Sun Bear]

I love a good thunderstorm. We don’t get many in the Seattle area, but I have been in areas both east of the Cascades and east of the Rockies, bedded down with the wife in a little backpacking tent, where to my intense joy the universe sparked with the light and roared with the voice of the Creator. Also, I am fascinated by crows and ravens, found it very interesting that you titled your work with imagery of ravens. Do you have them in Illinois? Thanks for the wonderful poem Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, we do have Ravens....and nice to hear a pleasant story about backpacking and staying in a tent.
Just read a detective mystery...sleeping in tents on the back of 4X4 was not so pleasant for some.
Scary...we are in such plight with this regime of ours...blunted purpose, crazy lightning.
j.

[Rosie C]

I admire your connection to the surroundings.

This is a deeply reflective piece. I can also sense a bit of wisdom in your words.

Some intense imagery throughout.

I have a strange feeling that change might upon us.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, at 75 I have a bit of wisdom...like a pinch of it...a very small dose, for sure.
Thanks for your kind words, Rosie.
j.