Oblivion

by Poet on the Piano   Apr 8, 2013


My classmate across the psychology room
finally spoke up.

She said, "it's a good day to die.
The weather- at its best, 70 degrees of
no stress. The sun- open, out, alert.
The time- perfect.

She doesn't mean it. We all know it,
even me, sneaking my ears around the
metal chairs like a serpent.
She says it with light tones speckling
her apparent humor.

But, I cringe.

My hand writhes in keen pain from
thinking too much and wanting words
to taste ink.

People do ponder their death. That's not too unusual.
People also plan it, asking themselves what
season, what moment would be just right
to unearth the truth that they are no longer
wheels spinning with effort to keep pushing
forward.

So, let me ask you.
Please hold nothing back in your response.
I promise this will be kept confidential...

Is today a good day to die?

- Written 4/08/13 @ 2:00 pm in my psych class.

3


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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by Jenni Marie

    Judging comment:

    "I am always amazed at what this author manages to create within her work and how she constantly seems to find inspiration in the smallest things in her life and yet again I find myself completely blown away at this marvelous piece. It's a poem that is filled with so many thought provoking questions, because even as we all live our lifes, don't we all ponder about death more than we do about life? Certainly, much more than we should do. I enjoyed the sudden transition from talking about the classmate, to talking directly to the reader, it certainly gave the poem more feeling. Excellent question at the end, something that allows the reader to really ponder on the meaning of life and such a stark and unexpected end to the poem. Amazing work as always from this author, of which I've come to expect no less."

  • 10 years ago

    by Jenni Marie

    Ahhhhh. I knew there was a poem I was meant to comment on, and couldn't remember which one it was. I just found it now while I was stalking your poems!

    Okay, so what can I say that hasn't already been said? This is amazing. I love this. I love the opening, it's so original and I like how you mention 70 degrees of no stress. For most people, of course beautiful weather calms and relaxes them so I found how you mention she says it's a good day to die to create somewhat of a paradox here, which is of course good for me, as it means I now have conflicting thoughts and emotions and the poem is already beginning to make me think.

    "sneaking my ears around the
    metal chairs like a serpent."

    Love this. It makes me think that you are privy to a conversation/counselling session that you shouldn't be a part of, hence "sneaking." and the use of "serpent" fits perfectly with that because of how they are usually referenced as sly, cunning etc.

    "So, let me ask you.
    Please hold nothing back in your response.
    I promise this will be kept confidential..."

    Ohhhhhhhh I love, love, LOVE this! I adore how you begin with talking about this conversation and then move to questioning your reader directly, and mentioning how it will be kept confidential really adds to the overall effect of the poem, because as we all know in a counselling/pshyc session, everything is always kept confidential. It really drives the point home.

    Your last line..what can I say about this? beautiful, amazing, thought provoking. A closing that hits with such impact!

    I just love this.

  • 11 years ago

    by onethuscome

    On my best day i can suffer almost any loss and all things redound to my benefit......today is not one of them.ha ha.no,seriously...i appreciate the "ambivalence"of your manner to the matter.it is a position,nonetheless,in the"guise"of objectivity".still,i paused and thought because of your poem.so for that...i thank u

  • 11 years ago

    by Tara Kay

    I love how you added the note at the bottom about where it was written. I write at work all the time, just something I hear or a thought I have can start of all manners of poetry.

    Okay, to the poem, and what a poem it is. It's a question that gets you thinking, it's a scary thought, death. I've had these thoughts, acted on the harsher ones and not questioned whether it was a good day...but now where I am at this minute, the questions turns itself around.

    I read this when you posted it and I've been meaning to comment, I just found it too raw

    MaryAnne, you always have a way of writing that doesn't just get me thinking, you actually keep me thinking. I know I'll be thinking of this all night now...but that's what I love about you....you just make me really think.

    Poetry at its best.

    xxx

  • 11 years ago

    by TSI25

    Its interesting i nthat its directly thought provoking. the ending is made powerful by your very direct question that bears a great deal of weight; is today a good day to die?

    and i think theres a lot of underlying impact too, sometimes people say stupid things without realizing how it might effect the people around them, and are totally oblivious (no pun intended) to it.

    definitely an interesting read.