Thursday, February 14, 2008

Somebody Shoot Me (1-Oct-1995)

This may seem like an odd poem for a day such as this but I thought I owed a Valentine gift to any poet who has suffered some of the stuff I've posted. I have always liked this one and consider it my best work. I honestly don't remember why I wrote it but reading it puts me in the same emotional state. If I recall correctly, it is actually a piece of speed poetry written in a moment of sheer torment. Until recently, I had forgotten what it was like to feel anything this raw and honest and deep and passionate. Lately, however, I have had the pleasure and misfortune of feeling again from one end of the spectrum to this.

Somebody Shoot Me


Shoot me where I stand.
Let the blood drip from the wound.
The pool of life
A puddle at my feet before I fall.
The slow-motion fall onto the floor.
The soft dull sound of flesh as it strikes the hardwood kitchen floor.
What would be my final thoughts?
Do I hear the shot?
Do I feel the cold wood as it strikes my face?
Are my final moments ones of contentment
Knowing that this too has passed?
As my vision dims and the sound muffles
Can I still smell the sulfur?
Taste the blood in my mouth?
Can I feel the heart in my chest slow?
Stop.
Does it all make sense?
Is there a light
Or just darkness?
The final justice.
But at least
It is
Over.

9 comments:

paisley said...

this moves so quickly as if all of this has to be thought worded and comprehended before the last beat of his heart... i love it....

Anonymous said...

Sometimes we wish for the pain which we persume leads to death. Being alive, I can't say death is painful or not.

jumping from the cliff to prove my love?

Tumblewords: said...

The format from the first command to the final word commands attention! Nice!

UL said...

starts and ends with the speed of the shot...beautifully laid out. thanks.

Andy Sewina said...

The poem is like a stage direction, I can imagine the actor going through the motions, asking himself the prompted questions and reacting to them as he falls...
Very visual.

Linda Jacobs said...

I'm sitting here shivering after reading your poem! Powerful!

anthonynorth said...

An excellent poem. There are so many questions about death that remain answered - until ...

Stan Ski said...

Even the slow death of life can't answer these questions. One day, I guess, we'll all know.

Yours truly Mason said...

I guess will never know till it happens to one of us lol but the image of this senario is almost like a film in my head very emotionaly powerful