Sometimes the best thing to do
to save someone
from making a grave mistake
is to beat them to the grave.
There were many
heading down the wrong path
in those years.
But none were worse than
Dan.
I loved him,
loved him as I had loved
no one before.
Not in a romantic sense.
He was like the
big brother
that I had always coveted.
Yet I could not help him.
When he smoked,
I watched.
When he told of his tales,
I listened.
When he cried out to me,
I silenced his screams.
When he said goodbye to me,
I didn't realize how perminant it was.
I was one who was
taking a dangerous path.
As were many of our friends.
He was the oldest,
and he always felt that
he had to be the example.
He had to save us from
everything that was
unfamiliar
too dangerous
and potentially fatal.
His suicide was his way
of saving us from
getting in too deep.
Before we started
taking it too far
and passing the point of
no return,
he showed us
how fragile a life can be
and what the effects of its loss
can be.
To this day I am grateful.
Were it not for him
and his great love for his friends,
I would have continued down the wrong path.
I would not be in college.
I would not have made it to twenty.
I would not be typing his story on this website.
I know that he is happy that he died
so that now he can see all of his friends
live.
Author notes
My best friend, Dan, committed suicide when we were in tenth grade. I personally believe, knowing his personality, that it was intentional and self-sacrificial.
A contest entry
- LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL by ellipsist.
700 points, ended February 13, 2008, 6 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
-
I have read this and re-read this...it is so moving. Gives me goosebumps. I am sorry for your loss, but glad that you have been redeemed by your friend at the same time. Hope this makes sense to you.
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a tender and heartfelt write... I am deeply sorry for your loss, the subject of this poem seems like the best kind of friend that one could have...
I want to applaud but do not want to trivialize this piece and the topic at hand and the love you've expressed, so I am at a loss...
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