The View from Halfway Down



The weak breeze whispers nothing
the water screams sublime.
His feet shift, teeter-totter
deep breaths, stand back, it’s time.

Toes untouch the overpass
soon he’s water-bound.
Eyes locked shut but peek to see
the view from halfway down.

A little wind, a summer sun
a river rich and regal.
A flood of fond endorphins
brings a calm that knows no equal.

You’re flying now, you see things
much more clear than from the ground.
It's all okay, or it would be
were you not now halfway down.

Thrash to break from gravity
what now could slow the drop?
All I’d give for toes to touch
the safety back at top.

But this is it, the deed is done
silence drowns the sound.
Before I leaped I should've seen
the view from halfway down.

I really should’ve thought about
the view from halfway down.
I wish I could've known about
the view from halfway down—

About this poem

"The View from Halfway Down" is a poignant poem featured in the acclaimed animated television series "BoJack Horseman." Written by the character Lennie Turteltaub, the poem is recited by Beatrice Horseman in the sixth season, episode 15, titled "The View from Halfway Down."

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Submitted by acronimous on March 25, 2024

52 sec read
63

Quick analysis:

Scheme xaxa xbcD efxf xbcd cgxg ebxD hDhD
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 854
Words 173
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Lenny Turteltaub

Lenny Turteltaub is a fictional character from the animated television series "BoJack Horseman." In the show, Turteltaub is portrayed as a talented writer who has authored various works, including poems, plays, and screenplays. more…

All Lenny Turteltaub poems | Lenny Turteltaub Books

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Discuss the poem The View from Halfway Down with the community...

2 Comments
  • Charles2
    Visceral
    LikeReply6 days ago
  • Abbykesington
    This a very strong poem. I'm immediately drawn to the scene, my mind floating in slow motion, looking at "the view from half way down."
    LikeReply 110 days ago

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"The View from Halfway Down" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/183689/the-view-from-halfway-down>.

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