On the Edge



He’s on the dark side of an unknown land.
A land where no-one cares about his name.
He’s cold and lonelyafraid of himself.
He’s through with caring…he’s through with fears.

The sun comes up now giving way to dawn.
Dawn’s cold, crisp air seeping into his bones.
The sun’s warmth spying on his huddled form.
He’s through with crying…he’s through with tears.

He can’t remember if he were e’er free,
free of life’s burdens that surrounded him.
Was there ever purpose – did someone care?
He’s through with people…he’s through with lies.

Is there a dark side on the other side?
Will the bright light await and brighten him?
He longs for something but knows not what.
He’s through with waiting…he’s through with life.

About this poem

I had sat and cried. What could I do? This man was so low, he could see no other option than to end his life. I was at the time - and still am - his only friend, and he has no family. I did the only thing I could do - write him a poem. Poetry says more succinctly what prose finds clumsy!

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Written on December 12, 2020

Submitted by susannaelliott on April 15, 2024

43 sec read
55

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXXX XXXX XAXX XAXX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 758
Words 144
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Susanna Elliott-Newth

Susanna is a teacher, living near the coastal fringes of the Illawarra Coastline in NSW, Australia. Her environment is her stimulus for her writing. She has published four books of short stories, as well as her own memoir book, and writes educational resources for teachers. more…

All Susanna Elliott-Newth poems | Susanna Elliott-Newth Books

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    "On the Edge" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/187203/on-the-edge>.

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