The Letter

The letter just mentioned her passing

He later found out she had hung herself

In a way he should have been shocked

He dated her once

It didn’t take long to find out she loved another

Strange how you can cling to dead people

The beautiful woman broken in two

Maybe he was just being shallow

In his own mind he was capable of love

But he was also a realist

Bad things happen in life

Like it did to him

He knew she was set on this journey

Words would always sound hollow

She had endured the mental torture

But in reality, she had to feel his suffering

No pills could do that, no easy way out

He sensed she died happy

Reunited for eternity

He did something completely out of character that day

Walking up over the bridge with three flowers

He tied two of them tightly together, dropping them gently into the river

He smiled to himself

She had touched him in a strange way

Not many had done that before...

Reviews

[I Am Svetlana]

This is quite an interesting write...a sort of letter to say goodbye, to help conjure the reality of what happened. Hopefully she did die happy cause no one deserves to pass when they are unhappy. By the ending, I was curious as to what the three flowers represented? The ending was nice and sweet, making the reader understand that she made him feel a certain way which wasn't normal for him. Great write!

[Miss Sharon]

(He did something completely out of character that day Walking up over the bridge with three flowers
He tied two of them tightly together, dropping them gently into the river) What a beautiful and kind painting these words provide the reader. I enjoyed this read. ~Sharon

[Paul Bell]

Death is strange in a way we never really understand.

[barleygirl]

This is brilliant on many levels . . . I love how it's not maudlin, but intelligently depicting the weird ways our minds make connections & justifications & explanations out of almost nothing, just a hint of an event, like someone nearly unknown dying. This is EXACTLY how our minds ponder these things! You make the bitter feel sweet (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Paul Bell]

It is strange when the past comes back and touches you for a time.

[Beccy]

A sensitive subject, oft, indeed, mostly avoided by writers as it is a difficult thing to tell; but with just that one line 'he sensed she died happy,' you managed to capture both pathos and elation, in what to me is a quite outstanding piece of writing.

As you say in your reply to jacob; words are so powerful.

Beccy.

[Paul Bell]

I think it's the mixed feeling you get when you hear of someone's death, but some just want to go and you have to accept that.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

OMG Paul-what happened to the third flower? Did he jump off the bridge with it to reunite with his lost love? A masterfully thought-provoking and melancholy poem that captured my attention and kept me rapt until the end and beyond... Loved the way the story was artfully underplayed but with subtle undertones of shock and tragedy. Well-penned my friend and Happy 2020!

[Paul Bell]

Sorry I didn't get back to you, Annette.
The third flower he kept, just to keep her memory alive.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Beautiful...

[Marie-Louise.]

I found this piece touching and very emotive. Well written and thought provoking. I thought the third flower was him.

[Paul Bell]

Calm start to January, Marie.

[Chris]

This one kept my attention. And I feel I "got it" even after. Well spoken.

[Paul Bell]

Thanks, Chris, cheery start to 2020.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

reminds me of Anne Sexton....nothing really against life, she just was ready to go...wanted to see what suicide was like...since her friend Sylvia had gone before her...
Even though she had run dry of feelings for life, she touched the speaker in this poem.
and i love the part about tying the two flowers together...
the third flower might pass as a religious reference to the Holy Ghost.
or her ghost...smiling at him while he smiled to himself.
such a good write Paul.
j.

[Paul Bell]

Two great poets, maybe the rock stars of their era.
It's like one fine day they put the pen down and just walk to their death. I suppose that is why words are so powerful.