Suicide is for the Hopeful

To you, my aching heart, broken and bewildered.

And you, the sorrowed face, detached and unfamiliar.

For you, inspired aim, so cruel and unforgiving.

I leave you now, in shallow ground, so that you may fade away.

For the silent whisper, wont with rage suppressed.
Then you, withdrawn emotion, so cowardly and crass.
To you, misguided anger, opportune and unexpected
I leave you here, in the midst of nothing, so that you disappear.

For the one faltering step, unreliable and deemed the wicked.
To this unrelenting hindsight, indifferent and unbearable.
For these streaming tears, uninvited, scarring and forever..
I leave you bound, beneath the surface, so that you never appear.

So here you are, this troubled mind, brutal and abrasive.
Along with you, crippling depression, committed and unwavering.
This is all for you, troubled past, so permanent, so wearing.
I leave you all, as good as dead...

so hope creeps in to take me.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Gleb Zavlanov]

Wow...this has to be one of the most, powerful, bone-tingling and saddest suicide poems I read. This was masterfully crafted, and the words are flawlessly chosen and tied. It's extremely horrifying that many people come to the point of suicide, but with correct care and hope, depression and suicide rates can drop. Thank you for penning and sharing.

[Raymond Federle]

I have been luck in my life to have never had to deal with thoughts of suicide. I do struggle with depression perhaps more than average but I have a deep seated drive to overcome as well. This was instilled by my grand parents who raised me. Mom was a teacher for 40 odd years, the old man was in the Navy for 30 some odd years. Although they are both gone I cling to the ideals they taught me like a life preserver amd it keeps me floating.

[R. L. Hill]

I can't quite tell you how this makes me feel. It hits so close to home plate that my hands are shaking. Suicide does seem like such a beautiful, hopeful release from all that overwhelms. Beautiful, Ray. Dark and complicated and potent. Wow

[Ruth]

I have been to places that have seemed so void of life, so void of light...this is tangible and reaching and for anyone who has had or does have suicidal thoughts, it actually speaks out with volume...it is a plague to feel this way...it is chaotic to feel this way...it is consuming to feel this way and you have delicately and poetically voiced it all in a compassionate manner.

Poignant x

[Raymond Federle]

Thank you so much Poppy. I always look forward to your reviews. :)

[Ruth]

Most welcome x

[Trevor Barnett]

Never knew suicide could sound so sweet. Very well wrote Raymond, I can feel the despair and torment in this piece.

[Sue Hart]

This pretty much spells our emotional bouts with life, doesn't it? I'd like to put some of mine six feet under too. Dramatically done and a powerful feeling thrust through the reader.

[Darkgirl]

Depression feels so overwhelming sometimes and its awful that it is treated so lightly by some, as if you could just get over it. But the reality is that one just can't get over something they can't properly explain, and it leads to bleak hopelessness.
My brother was one of those, this touched me and reminded me of that struggle he was unable to concur.

[Talesha]

Well written.I feel the melancholic emotions through your words.It's very heart-breaking,yet so beautifully put together.

True love can let go.... brilliant piece my friend, nobody is lonely ever after.... when we carry love in our hearts... along our journey ;) wherever it may take us.... you only can move on, when past is presence, inside of you :D (or in that other world)... beautiful music, and again beautiful entertaining stuff brother... ;) it reaches deeply within always. (here).

- Elisa

[h d e rushin]

sadly in Michigan former governer Engler closed all the mental hospitals in the state in 2001
and turned those who needed mental help over to the criminal justice system or the emergency wards.
We, as a civilized society, have to have a serious discussion about depression, the absolute ubiquity of
its violence and its final solution, human destruction. And I do understand that depression is only
a small (an uneducated) symptom that leads to suicide, since you dont have to be depressed to
take your own life, and thats where the need for funding and education comes in. Obviously you take
on the subjects for poetry that you wrestle with most. I admire you're bravery.

dana

[Raymond Federle]

It's true... sometimes. I try to work through emotions and feelings about subjects through poetry, music and the like. Always looking for a fresh perspective on old stuff.. things that people sometimes get complacent about. However a lot of my stuff is just for my own entertainment and amusement because my weirdness needs a vehicle to express itself and if people come along for the ride...well, that's makes it all the better. Glad you liked the poem! Thanks for reviewing. :)

[Baby Ricochet]

My people (vets) have a high rate of suicide. I knew a couple of guys that did it after they came home. When I heard about it mostly it just pissed me off. They didn't do it because of what went down in Iraq. They did it because of what happened when they came home. "Home"is the most alienating place in the world when you come back from a deployment. You have no purpose anymore, life seems pointless and honestly, after all that violence, you're definitely a bit "off" if you know what I'm saying. The big question for loved ones left behind is "WHY" and that'll drive most people f**k nuts in time. I'm not the suicidal type. I figure hajji couldn't kill me I'm sure as s**t not doing it for him.

[Raymond Federle]

Amen brother dude!