Poetic Asides offered an interesting prompt, “Never again.” This is a hard one to read, but I hope it will give someone, anyone out there second thoughts if they ever consider taking their own life… Peace, Amy
Finale
Suicide
Bloodletting bride of
isolation
Over-rated solution to
confusion
Delusion tells you it’s
the only way out
(“Please proceed to the nearest exit”)
Psych meds assuage the
doubt
Numb it, dumb it down
But for the dedicated
deathbound
Hounds of hell at their
heels
In the end
it’s the end.
A final farewell to friends, family
Never mind who finds you
dangling
Don’t worry, your mom will bleach
the bathtub
But the sight will frighten and
haunt them forever
Never say never – again, I say:
Pick up the phone
Make the call
You are loved
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
This one touches me in a really personal way. I hope it helps someone too, Amy, so much. Thank you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Debbie. Helping, yes, that’s what we’re here for, ultimately…
vivinfrance
Amy, a clever poem on an emotive subject. You have done really well with what must have been a difficult write.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, you are right – this was a hard piece to approach, let alone complete. Yet my experience with my own mental illness, along with the suicides of so many gay kids, spurred me on…
Mariya Koleva
Amy, this is more frightning than I thought. I think “for the dedicated deathbound” all help is simply procrastination. For border-line cases, though, timely help makes a real difference. Hopefully, more of them get help in time!
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen to that, Mariya!
Elephant Small
Must have been hard to write this one, but I think you got it just about right.
ladynimue
yes , make that one call .. it may save you life and many more from the haunting memories ..
Wonderful said Amy !
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Nimue, so much. Amy
Coin & Feather
Really great poem. My nephew committed suicide last January and it does haunt forever. I especially like your lines:
“But for the dedicated
deathbound
Hounds of hell at their
heels
In the end
it’s the end.”
How sadly true those words are. Love is forgotten in that black despair and the determination to quit living. I hope your poem finds readers who need to hear what it says.
Sharp Little Pencil
First, I am truly sorry about your nephew. When a person gets to that place of isolation so intense, so filled with whatever unearned guilt or shame, there is sometimes no turning back. At one time, I contemplated suicide – and I consider myself blessed that I didn’t do it.
As for the poem, I am probably going to submit it to NAMI, as I am manic depressive and live with PTSD. Thank God for therapy and the right meds. Amy
Ron.
I have one of these, too; different, but same.
I hope the right people read this. Well done.
Sharp Little Pencil
Intriguing comment, Ron. I do hope this gets passed around… may submit to NAMI. Thanks, Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Wow! How heartbreakingly beautiful.
Tilly Bud
One of your best, I think. Amazing. I love that last stanza but my favourite line is:
Over-rated solution to
confusion
I hope someone who needs it, reads it.
Sharp Little Pencil
That’s my prayer, Linda. Thanks so much. Amy
Judy Roney
This blows me away (I write through my tears). Thanks for reaching out to the troubled souls. Those suicide survivors (those that have a loved one die by suicide) survive in a tortured realm. This touches me deeply.
Sharp Little Pencil
Judy, bless you for being you and saying this so clearly. I appreciate your thoughts. And yes, those left behind go through hell… Amy
pamela
Amy, a powerful piece on a very sad subject. I hope it helps someone also.
I lost a good friend to suicide, right before moving to Mexico. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. We never saw it coming. Heartbreaking.
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Pamela, so many people who are contemplating the act do not share with others. They get just that isolated, and then everyone who is left behind says, “How could we not see it?” The answer is, “Because they were determined not to be vulnerable; not to let it show.” I’m sorry for your loss, dear. Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh this is fantastically powerful – and the best words: “Pick up the phone. Make the call. You are loved.” Wonderful writing, Amy!!!!
andy sewina
Phew, too true – pick up the PHONE!!
Sharp Little Pencil
You know? Really. Even if it’s only some stranger at a suicide hotline… so many people are lost each year, especially teens, and that’s the tragedy, right there. They can’t recognize that, for all of them (not just gay), it DOES get better. Fat, acne, clumsiness, dyslexia… it all works out. Thanks, Andy. Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
Sharing this with someone who I love very much who tried to do this a few weeks ago.
Great poem, bless you Ameleh – mosk
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank God your friend did not succeed. Hope this helps, Mosk. You are a good friend to have around, both in good times and stormy days, I’m sure.
Love you, Ameleh
Gloria
There was a time when I thought this was the answer, and had I done, I would not have the glorious life I have today. This is such an important message, and you have delivered it perfectly.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen, sister. I felt the same. And look where we are – writing poetry, sharing beauty with each other and the world!! Victories sometimes seem so small, but the ripples are major. Love, Amy
Mary
Oh, Amy, what a poem. I hope aong with you that anyone who is considering suicide will make the call. You always tackle the tough issues.
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, Mary, I’ve contemplated suicide in years past, before I got the right regimen of mental health care. Sometimes it takes walking in that wretched valley to be able to say, “There IS another way…” Thanks, Amy
Mr. Walker
A difficult subject, and one that you handle with tact and appropriate emotion. I agree with what others have said before me. That last line is perfect. I hope it does reach someone in pain and helps them feel a little better and choose differently. As one who has suffered/does suffer from depression, I think you capture well that hopeless feeling. Brava!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you so much, Carl. The last line is the one that makes sense out of it all. People get caught in that maze, get so isolated. It’s very sad, especially when the victim is a young person who doesn’t see how much there is to live for… Amy
Kim Nelson
Amy~
Last lines are so vital. The bad days pass…
Sharp Little Pencil
I passed them and got onto better days. Too many people aren’t so lucky, to have friends and lovers who pick up the cues…
leesis
great work Amy. I have to add that it can be so hard for folk in such a state to pick up the phone but not so hard perhaps for those of us surrounding to reach out. When I found my client hanging and the ambulance came and police etc one of the many things that horrified me that day was all the neighbors that came out to look but who over the previous eight months I knew this woman had never knocked on her door to see if they could lend a hand in some way
Sharp Little Pencil
Leesa, so sorry you found your client that way… a friend of mine, a therapist, just lost a teenager, a girl, this way as well. And yes, everyone gawks, which is disgusting in its own way. Thank you for responding wholeheartedly, Leesa, and again, my condolences… Peace, Amy
uponthewingsofnight
There have been many times in my life where I have heard the call of the suicide sirens. I look back on it now and realize that if I had gone ahead with it, I would have never met my wife nor you, Amy. I’m glad that I’m still here, able to type these words and read yours. Brett