for scott hutchison
I hope the water was the comfort you craved
as you waded out in to the firth of forth
with no alarm set for the new morning
and that when the pricks of pain hit your heart
as the slate swell embraced you in the way we could not
that you turned up to face the lights
and in that last panicked gasp
you saw the sky falling to meet you
we cant take back the ugly things
but we can learn from loss
place your hand where my heart aches
keep yourself warm
Sorry to hear that Martin. I have been affected by suicide a few times and it is a thoroughly miserable affair. I hope your keeping well and thanks for your support as ever.
These words struck a chord with me Stu as I lost someone to suicide only a year ago. As always these are beautifully crafted words.
Thanks for posting
glad it moved you hazel, thanks so much. and you are spot on.
Last two lines had me reaching for my heart. The intimacy of knowing another's pain is a kind of deep love.
Thanks ray! As ever, I just wanted to move someone.
I feel you have surpassed yourself with this poignant poem Stu. Always original, your work has come down to earth here and then lifted us with its unique quality. "Slate swell" just perfect. POTW surely please.
Ray
Thanks so much Ian, I'm really glad it resonated with you. Lovely stuff.
this is beautiful Stu - as always you hit the mark perfectly - sad, poignent and so well crafted - if this isn't poem of the week there's no justice
Ian
Thanks all. I'm glad this has worked for so many people.
Of course POTW would be fab but with so much good stuff up at the moment I'm happy just to have reached the people I already have!
Stay safe everyone, remember to keep yourself warm.
Hi Stu,
His suicide note ~ unable to cope with whatever demons he had running around and tormenting him ~ not waving but drowning. Those that judge and show no empathy - karma can be a weird thing. It's a cruel world..
I agree with Graham. Your words are poetry at its finest.
Suki
Frances Macaulay Forde
Wed 16th May 2018 03:03
So powerful and affecting, perhaps it will be Poem of the Week.
<Deleted User> (13762)
Tue 15th May 2018 20:21
powerful stuff Stu - the imagining of the physical act of walking into the water in the first verse is masterful.
thanks all. im glad you enjoyed the piece. scott hutchison was the lead singer of scottish indie band frightened rabbit. he walked in to the firth of forth last week and never came back. a lot of his struggles mirror those i have gone through and i was desperately upset at the situation. i hope this captures something, whatever that something may be.
Stu so often (as I have told you in the past) your work impresses me, even if I don't completely understand the world in which you write it.
In this piece there is no such confusion. It it simply perfectly weighted, tenderly crafted and of course has a killer two last lines.
Great Work!
Graham
elPintor
Tue 15th May 2018 12:32
Beautiful.
Frances Macaulay Forde
Tue 15th May 2018 09:56
You have brought tears to my eyes, Stu.
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<Deleted User> (18118)
Fri 8th Jun 2018 20:29
Very powerful,
'with no alarm set for the new morning'.
A poem to remember.
Hannah