February 11, 1963
No.
It isn’t worth it.
I know your sadness, but I also know your potential.
You woke up early, earlier than early.
When it was still black out.
And you decided, “today’s the day, I go through with my preaching.”
Yet, you know what you were doing, that it would hurt...not only you.
You were so rational; you remembered the children.
On a drab winter day, you carefully and motheringly
Prepared both your sleeping sweethearts – some bread and jars of milk.
And left it by their nightstands.
Then you opened their windows, to assure their respiration.
You closed both doors with determination, and began to
Seal the crevices with tape and towels.
You wrote a 4-worded note, “Please Call Dr. Horder”
alongside his number,
And clung it to the stroller.
No.
It isn’t worth it.
You’ve tried this before.
You went to your basement and devoured 50 sleeping pills.
Yet, you survived. It must’ve been for a reason.
Last summer, ’62, you sped your car into a river –
With the hopes to end it all.
Yet, you survived. It must’ve been for a reason.
You’re a living token of luck, and the odds have been defied.
Yet you kept on playing with fire.
No.
Fight against the temptation.
It’s 4:30 a.m., you’re only 30, and you’ve turned on the gas –
Alas, you opened the oven door and placed your
Astronomical head inside –
With supernovas in your eyes –
A line of stars within the smile –
Won’t you stay awhile?
The nurse knocked a few hours later.
Nothing in reply.
She asked a passing workman to help her open the door.
They found you in the womb of warmth – you had been re-born.
And you lived up to what you said:
“The Woman is perfected.
Her Dead”
-
Author:
Rocky Lagou (
Offline) - Published: April 19th, 2022 11:02
- Comment from author about the poem: To one of my all-time muses. Depression is destructive.
- Category: Sad
- Views: 45
Offline)
Comments9
Is that a true story,
It is definitely true, very sadly to say. Sylvia had so much potential and she truly was a symbol for so many and, not to mention, the main and predominant force in the Confessionalist poetry movement. She catalyzed Confessionalism and even went on to win a Pulitzer Prize after her death. Her works have gone on to inspire modern poets of today. If only she had resisted a little more, so much more was to come. But mental health issues are truly destructive. Hope you felt my little ode to Plath, it surely was a heartfelt one from me. Have a lovely day!
I have, I have a friend here who is struggling with mental illness and she's been missing since Easter, she's rubyrae, and we're praying for her, and any information about her, that's what my poem yesterday was about, the last one she posted,end, just felt like goodbye
It sounds horribly harsh to say it - but isn't suicide very selfish, if we have spouse, relatives, children - or simply 'loved one's left behind?
Yet who knows what goes on in some people's minds.
I read a bit about loneliness - a bit harsh, saying WE should make the effort, get our coat, and get out more, as they say! Doh!
I honestly have to agree. They say suicide is the "coward's way out," but mental health is honestly pivotal in order to maintain happiness. Although it may seem selfish, especially taking into account she had two little children, she had no choice. She fought with depression ever since she was a child and had attempted suicide on various other occasions. Her poem, "Lady Lazarus," speaks directly to those attempts and highlights just how distorted one's mind can get. Also the problems going on in her life like her divorce from her husband, which was also a poet, Ted Hughes, and his infidelity towards her affected her a lot. So I can only imagine it felt suffocating for her. I just hope her scenario raised awareness to how important maintaining mental health is. Have a great day!
It's a dark joke - Now look, one said (uncaringly) to a friend: 'I wish you would cook dinner in that oven, and not think about cooking your head in it!' Doh!
sadly because this is so very true, this is so very good .. I too am a huge fan .. N
It's nice to know another who appreciates her works like I do. Her life was truly quite tumultuous but at least she gave what she could during her time alive. She inspires me with her incredible poems everyday. Hope you have a lovely day and stay safe!
The way you have written here really drew me into the person... well some of the person. It's in the small details which humanise any story or poetry and here youve done that. It felt personal.
Suicide is outside the normal. Clearly most of us strive to hang onto life, it's precious to us. Suicide leaves behind terrible consequence for all, it alters peoples lives. It hangs over people like a dark cloud, so very different to losing someone in the 'normal' way.
A very touching, moving piece.
I couldn't agree more. I'm so delighted to see you felt my attempts at bringing light to her predicament and it truly goes to show the dangers of the mind. Not only did I write this as a "lament" to her loss, but it's also to raise awareness of how mental health issues could destroy the sufferer's life and those around them. We just have to be consious of our tendencies and compassionate when dealing with the world. Thanks for your kindhearted reviews as always. Have a marvelous day!
I have not read this story before. Your poem and comments have further shown the huge problem of mental health issues in the population, young and old. In some countries suicide is the highest cause of death among a certain age group. Very tragic.
Tragic, indeed, dear Rozina. Sadly enough efforts aren't being made in order to treat these issues when they arise, so as the person worsens, it might already be too late. Suicide rates are at alarming highs, and I just hope we can make a change in our society by raising awareness and by doing out part. Hope you have a great day!
You wrote this in such a fantastic way. I know she committed suicide but her words live on. Many poets suffer from depression, I read somewhere. Artists in general I think. I wish she would have stayed a while longer......
It's honestly quite fascinating to see how many celebrities deal with mental issues like depression or PTSD and so on. Many look up to them as idols but they're often blind to see that being in the limelight is overwhelming and chaotic. I mean just look at the number of overdoses by many American stars, it's truly tragic. I just hope change can occur. Thanks for the comment, have a peaceful day.
The Bell Jar was such a sad story and reading this brought me back to it. So tragic. She was an amazing talent--you honored her Rocky 🙂
Hello beloved! I've heard SO many good things about "The Bell Jar" and I'm really bummed that I haven't had the opportunity to read it. She's actually one of my deepest inspirations from her tone to her style to her uniqueness. The way she can metaphorize and make such intimate details so spectacular and vivid is what inspires me about her. I'm truly glad to see you felt I honored her through my words, it was my goal. Thanks for the comment, have a beautiful day!
Have adored Sylvia since my school days
Her poetry changed my views in many ways
We all are at edge somewhere and somehow
Some a bit more
Some a bit less
This poetry of yours means a lot
To her, to her fans and to people who can understand
Initially I celebrated her as a poet with depth
But as growing up I realised her hurts, her pains, her suffocation
It’s hard to survive with so many worries inside
To bear a smile when the heart is being constantly hurt inside
It’s difficult to survive
One whose a victim can’t be blamed
It’s sad for those victims as well as their loved ones troubled by the satan called depression
But I truly hope poetry can help us speak up, reduce our pains. Heal our wounds slowly but effectively
Thanks a lot for sharing this piece dear Rocky
Hello dear Spiller. Thanks abundantly for the review. When I first stumbled upon Sylvia Plath, it was with her iconic poem "Daddy." I mean, WOW. After reading that poem, she truly opened my vision to what poetry can be about and how it can be expressed. Like I never knew how intimate and personal poetry could get until reading her poems, and I'm so glad I did discover her. Along with Emily Dickinson, she's one of my top favorite poets of all time. Her personality but also pain really shined through her words, and after much struggle she got what she always desired...death. That's why I look up to her not only for her poetry, but also for the person she was. Her story goes on to show that if we don't have a control over our emotions and our mental health, then we can really fall deep into the depths of the mind. All in all, she went on to not only inspire me, but also many other poets to come. Thanks for your keen comments as always, truly appreciated, have a lovely day!Hello dear Spiller. Thanks abundantly for the review. When I first stumbled upon Sylvia Plath, it was with her iconic poem "Daddy." I mean, WOW. After reading that poem, she truly opened my vision to what poetry can be about and how it can be expressed. Like I never knew how intimate and personal poetry could get until reading her poems, and I'm so glad I did discover her. Along with Emily Dickinson, she's one of my top favorite poets of all time. Her personality but also pain really shined through her words, and after much struggle she got what she always desired...death. That's why I look up to her not only for her poetry, but also for the person she was. Her story goes on to show that if we don't have a control over our emotions and our mental health, then we can really fall deep into the depths of the mind. All in all, she went on to not only inspire me, but also many other poets to come. Thanks for your keen comments as always, truly appreciated, have a lovely day!
a poem of many feelings moments and lesons
Thanks kindly for the comment. This one's dedicated to one of my muses and to her life. Sadly she had so much to give, but took her life before she could. Have a great day!
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