Today I

a memory jars me

Today I
got in the car
and that song
was playing
the one that
reminds me of you --
and I realized

Today is
that day,
the last day
I ever saw you
nine years,
today.

Did you know
that day?
when you shook
your hair,
and smiled at us?
eyes sparkling
in the sun?

Did you know
it was goodbye?
was that why
you were so happy?
your decision
was done?

Today I
listened to that song.
I cried again,
I asked why again.
and you still can't tell me,
why you took that rope
and climbed that tree.

Author's Note

I don't know what to ask for here.

Reviews

[Lyan]

Sad and powerful poem.it is a tragedy when this happens.very unfortunate that people take this path instead of the living.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, and I agree.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

My ex wife's sister nada boyfriend that hung himself in a tree, and there were no warning signs… it is so tragic when someone we love selfishly takes their own life leaving us to question why.

[Lyn Anderson]

It is horrible. A friend of mine, who has lost her dad, uncle, and several other relatives to suicide prefers to think of it as them thinking they are sparing us from their pain -- she says she would go nuts if she thought of it as just "selfish". It really is a riddle with no answer, a grief without end.

[Susan Beth Horvath]

Very beautifully done. This is vivid and moving work . The imagery describes not just a scene but a feeling

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was trying to do.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this reminds me of Bill....a guy we worked with at the restaurant...always seemed cheerful...maybe because it was he knew what he was going to do...and he was happier thinking about what could be after this mortal coil is thrown off.

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, I can only assume that is what made her happy at the end.

[Delmar Cooper]

Well, that really cheered me up. Thanks a lot. I guy in our neighborhood did it. The messy way. Mother and I cleaned the ceiling for the widow. Mom was really sad and she was never sad, not ever. I never forgave that son of a b***h.

[Lyn Anderson]

I hear you. It isn't an easy thing to understand. Sometimes we can't forgive. And we never forget.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A sad anniversary. Well penned in a sadly poignant verse 'M'

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks. As a person who knows all too well, suicide is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. I try not to remember dates. But that song made me make the connection.

[~*~Peace Keeper~*~]

I like this, it has good imagery, I could see the flashback to the person being happy. The ending caught me a little by surprise, at first I thought the person just left but then I realized this person actually killed themselves by hanging, this is what made it a very emotional poem.

Good Job

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you. I appreciate the review. It is a tough one, this one. She is in a lot of my poems.

[~*~Peace Keeper~*~]

You're welcome, this is based on what really happened?

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, I wish it were not so, but it is.

[~*~Peace Keeper~*~]

Oh, I am sorry to hear that. It is very sad when things happen like that.