He Was Strong

Strength is subjective. He was strong to me.

He was beautiful.
He always had a smile,
even when it hurt to grin.
He was caring.
He always made time to chat a while,
if ever a face looked grim.
He was pained.
He harboured monsters in his lungs,
that ate his breath and laughter.
He was dedicated.
He fought hard (for one so young),
he was a dreamer, a grafter.
He was scared.
His weight fell off and left him gaunt,
his shadows grew far taller.
He was troubled.
He had no confidante
as his burden forced him smaller.
He was ill.
He saw demons in the windows,
beckoning for him to fall.
He was struggling.
The sea crashed down with his sorrows,
swept him into a concrete wall.
He was alone.
Alone when they found the note,
alone when they buried him.
He was ostracised.
They did not care for what he wrote,
joked he shaved too close for a trim.
He wasn't brave.
He was - but not for himself.
He'd rather save than be saved.
He wasn't happy.
None considered his mental health,
said he was 'physically unscathed'.
He wasn't strong.
He succumbed to a disease
that couldn't be seen or cured.
He was strong.
He was.
He did what he could to please
and for them, for however long,
he endured.

Author's Note

For anyone who lost someone to suicide or a mental illness, you need to know that their strength was different from yours. In some ways they weren't as strong as you - in other ways they were stronger.

Reviews

[Pete]

This is absolutely beautiful and heartfelt. A literary tribute/eulogy that speaks for itself and honors a precious soul.

[Blysful]

Thank you so much for seeing it as such, and thank you for taking the time to comment :)

[AliciaB]

This is one of the most beautiful and powerful poems I have ever read. Each image - the person's smile, the shadow, the demons, the sea and the wall - is a vivid and moving snapshot of the many facets of this experience. The idea of having a different kind of strength also touches me profoundly. I'm having trouble expressing my feelings regarding this poem - it's one of those things that, cliché as it sounds, words cannot accurately describe. This is such an amazing and emotional piece. It makes my heart ache. Excellent, excellent work.

[Blysful]

I'm touched that it affected you so, but also really sorry your heart is aching! Be happy heart! I'm sorry! :p there are so many different strengths, but so many of them go unappreciated in favour of physical attributes. Well I say 'screw that!' One of the strongest people I knew couldn't beat me in an arm wrestling match - and I'm not exactly big

[AliciaB]

It's ok. It's good to elicit compassion in people for this kind of thing. And yeah, I have zero arm strength.

[Érenn]

I have trouble when i read such poems, because the emotions start leaking on my face. But i truly loved what you wrote and yes I believe that there is a thing or two we can learn from this as well.

[Blysful]

Thank you so much! You have no idea how much it means to me that something I wrote could effect someone in such a way - though I'm sorry it made you leak! Please be happy again :)