By One’s Own Hand
In Britain, in particular, thoughtless and sheep-like mobbing and group ostracism in schools, at work, online, cause a large proportion of suicide attempts. Pic.: my own
I‘ve met many
cut down in time, held back
before the tentative fall
successfully emptied
stemmed from emptying
damaged, patched and delivered
back to square one
I’ve read their notes, anecdotes
letters of goodbye, of resignation
scribbled obituaries, epitaphs
obsessions, confessions
listened to explanations
accusations
seen tears of regret
tears of joy from being a failure
failing
their anger
at parent, lover, partner, friend
at physician, admission
at being saved
at their proof of incompetence
at the saviour’s insufficient display
of dismay
I’ve seen what street drugs, party drugs
do to addicts, fanatics, to casual users
what pills do to mates, to reprobates,
to self-hate, to girls on dates, to domestic
and sexual abusers
I’ve seen what love, loss, loneliness
mobbing, aging, craving, visions of doom
incessant pain, hoping in vain
does to us all
to some, more so
For others
living the good life
was just too blasé
having had and done everything
wondering where not living would lead
envious, curious, furious
of/at what only the dead might know
A retired friend
medical expert in forensic explosives
had it easier
piecing together filtered bits
of disintegrated hate
DNA without humbled eyes or
outstretched hands
still clutching broken straw
Goth:2015
speechless, i liked your pic; you obviously become quiet when you have volumes to say; grosso modo, we need to control our own lives, but what do we do when we give away the remote control to others, or to situations surrounding us, Goth, what do we do, it is not uncommon to see high-end achievers, losers (the so-called) destroying themselves in the same way, and if you wanted to reason it out, you’d find that the reason or the lack of it is the cause in someone else’s case; if I’m a loser is the reason for someone, ‘I’m… Read more »
Thanks Supratik,for your comments and own impressions on reading this piece. Yes, suicide it’s a difficult subject to contemplate and dwell on for most people, awakening at first introspection and compassion about the difficulties of the human situation, which ironically often includes difficulty in, or an aversion to, formulating an adequate verbal version of those thoughts? I agree with you that the pace and dynamics of living, the pursuasive, negatively felt, influences of others, many of whom you have no affinity with, tends to reduce the ability to control and resolve your own problems, to steer your own life. Expectations… Read more »
Yes, I could fathom your engagement with its cause. I found the poem thought-provoking and relevant, hence had shared it on LinkedIn without taking your concurrence, sorry, but I believe a poem when released from the poet becomes a property of those who own it. Here’s the link.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/supratik-sen-8a46b8172_a-thought-provoking-poem-on-suicide-by-gothicman-activity-7030489706417070080-7V3M?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android
Summary of all the worst problems of the welfare state, quite comprehensive in a poignantly documentary way. I applaud and commend Supratik’s sharing and forwarding it.
I thought, Aurelio, being a very encompassing subject, with at least eleven motives, and that with a cold attitude needed when applying interventions, in order to be effective, stay focused, and be versatile and active, that the poem itself should reflect this need for a pragmatic approach.
Yes, it’s good that Supratik has promoted it further using links on other sites, as this is what we need to keep this, the best presented writing site on the Internet, viable and flourishing, especially if it gets new members? Thanks for your comment!