You Never Really Know

I wrote this poem after being told that my cousin had committed suicide that morning by jumping off the bridge...

You see someone walk down the street

A blank expression on their face.

You get a little closer,

Simply curious of whom it is.

You smile and ask them how they have been,

Hoping that it meant something to them.

How do you know?

Then later you get a phone call,

Your mother’s voice on the other end.

Just a few sobs and a sniffle

Was all that it took.

Who was it this time?

You wait for the sobs to die down

And then you ask her what is wrong.

“Your cousin jumped off the bridge this morning.

It took his life from him.”

The words take a bit to sink in

And then you start thinking back

To when the last time you talked to him actually was.

It makes you think about life,

How quickly things go by.

The last time that I saw his face

Was when my great-grandmother died.

Just last year

His son drowned in the river

Only a few days after I saw him.

So now he leaves behind another son

And two daughters,

One of them pregnant.

He never got to see his grandchild.

Yet only one question is in my head…

“What was so wrong in his life

That he decided it was not worth it anymore?”

Maybe if just one person had asked him how he was,

Things would have been different.

 

 

Reviews

[HamonoAkira]

i can really feel the intense emotion. i'm very sorry for your cousin. Here's my favorite line:

"Maybe if just one person had asked him how he was,
Things would have been different."

-Arnie

[Shugotenshi1692]

you showed your emotions and thoughts in a very intense kind of way. that is what writing poetry is all about. keep up the good work!

[Wildecat]

This is indeed a heartbreaking and sad poem, sad that this kind of thing happens.

[The Reticent Receptioni..]

So true, so well put, heartbreaking, and a wonderful smack in the face - I need to smile and be kinder than necessary every chance I get.

[Kiara]

Heart breakingly beautiful
I truly loved this
your poetry is deeply expressed
so well thank you for sharing and
I am so sorry for your loss -arabella

[Orahemae December]

AWWW. sissy im sooo sorry for your lose. i loved the poem.really showed your thoughts.