Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Suicide Kid" is a poem by Charles Bukowski, first published in his 1965 collection "Crucifix in a Deathhand." Bukowski was known for his raw and honest writing style, and "The Suicide Kid" is no exception. The poem speaks to the human struggle with depression and the desire for release from the pain and suffering of life.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker describing the experience of depression and the desire to end one's own life, suggesting that suicide can be a form of release from the pain and suffering of life. The speaker goes on to describe the process of contemplating suicide and the sense of release and liberation that comes with it. The poem concludes with the speaker acknowledging the complexity and difficulty of the decision to end one's own life, suggesting that the desire for release must be tempered by an acceptance of the beauty and wonder of life.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "The Suicide Kid" is a free verse poem that does not follow a specific rhyme or meter scheme. It is composed of three stanzas, with each stanza consisting of six lines.
• Imagery: Bukowski uses vivid and evocative imagery throughout the poem to create a sense of the pain and suffering of life, such as the image of "life's smelly mouth" and the "cold water" of death.
• Tone: The poem has a resigned and melancholy tone, acknowledging the pain and suffering of life, but also suggesting that there is beauty and wonder to be found in the world.

Summary:

"The Suicide Kid" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human struggle with depression and the desire for release from the pain and suffering of life. Through the use of vivid imagery and a resigned tone, Bukowski captures the complexity and difficulty of the decision to end one's own life, while also acknowledging the beauty and wonder of life. Ultimately, the poem serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking help and support in times of struggle and despair, and of the power of the human spirit to endure and overcome even the darkest of times.

Poem Snippet:

"the best often die by their own hand

just to get away,

and those left behind

can never quite understand

why anybody

would ever want to

get away

From

them"

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