Jekyll and Hyde

With the death of my parents something changed inside, Its a secret very deep that I’ve tried so hard to hide, I keep busy working but admit I often have denied, There’s not a day go by that I don’t think of suicide. Then I look at my children and become filled with pride, To see my son graduate, my daughter become a bride, Would be part of life so important, it could not be denied. And spending these milestones without me to preside, Would make my family feel like a big part of them died. So I keep the sleeping pills hidden and the act untried, Averting the sad thoughts, putting a smile on the outside. Breathe easy, this secret is not a true story, that’s the upside. Written by Lee Ramage August 30, 2011 For Shani Fassbender’s Contest “Tell Me a Secret” Placement: First place
** According to the World Health Organization someone around the globe commits suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds. WHO website 2009

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 9/3/2011 1:12:00 PM
This sure is a very stirring write, Lee-- sometimes we really wouldn't know what goes through a person's mind and it really helps to express one's feelings..I am so relieved this is not based yourself, but I am also sorry to hear about your friend-- this is an eye-opener...we really need to be more aware & more sensitive to the people around us & try to help.... Really deserving of the 1st place! Super congrats, Lee! :D
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/3/2011 10:30:00 PM
Thanks Nikko so much for your kind words. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment on my poem. Lee
Date: 9/3/2011 9:45:00 AM
Congrats Lee on your 1st place win in the contest of Shani.Very emotional write.
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/3/2011 10:31:00 PM
Thanks Kashinath so much for your comments. Lee
Date: 9/3/2011 3:39:00 AM
A First Place Win Congratulations. CR
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/3/2011 10:31:00 PM
Thanks Caryl.
Date: 9/2/2011 11:41:00 PM
two things... first congrats on the win with fine form on a very difficult topic. .. .. second it could be, just could be, that it doesn't end here.. that there's other stuff besides the definitiveness of heaven and hell... and trying to develop integrity makes a difference. it could NOT be, too... namaste, Lee. ~n
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/3/2011 1:12:00 AM
Thanks Nancy, I never really thought about there being something else besides heaven and hell, maybe there's nothing... maybe there's a waiting room... who knows. Appreciate your comments, will watch my I's, me, etc... thanks for the teach. Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 9:15:00 PM
Wonderful to see your emotional presentation has won you a first place, Lee. Congratulations on a worthy poem place. Agape, Moses
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 9:42:00 PM
Thanks so much. I appreciate your feedback. Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 1:32:00 PM
Emotional poem until the end. So glad it's not true! Congratulations on your #1 win!
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 6:41:00 PM
Thanks so much Susan, I was worried the last line may ruin it but I was also afraid someone might call a Doctor for me... thought the truth was important. Take care. Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 11:38:00 AM
Congrats Lee on your first place win luv..
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 11:43:00 AM
Thanks so much Linda. Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 10:27:00 AM
Lee- A wonderful poem to educate others about the prevalence of suicide and oh so cleverly scripted! A real beauty... and just my style! Congrats on being at the top of the podium. Gwendolen
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 11:39:00 AM
Thanks so much Carrie, I think you have to look at each poem in isolation, because I believe lighter poems are just as great too, but I had a colleague commit suicide and I just wanted to someone honour this illness that no one speaks of. Thanks again. Lee
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 11:37:00 AM
Thank you Gwendolen so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide such nice meaningful comments. Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 10:02:00 AM
This is so gripping, you tackled such a difficult subject so well.....and I am so relieved it does not come from personal experience. (Makes my own ditty sound so silly....yours indeed a winner!) Congratulations!!
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 11:42:00 AM
Hi Carrie, I responded once but it seems to have disappeared, so to rephrase, I truly believe we need to read each poem in isolation and think about what they say, as lighter ones will often just brighten my whole day... rhyming and not trying. Thanks again, congrats to you too on all your wins, of which I can't hold a candle to. Take care Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 9:44:00 AM
Lee-so glad that you made the #1 spot-you really deserved it-this is a gem! Congrats. to you :)!
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 11:40:00 AM
Thanks so much Natalie I think you read it before anyone else. Appreciate your feedback. Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 7:14:00 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved 1st Place win in Shani's "Tell Me a Secret" contest Lee. Love,Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 9/1/2011 6:04:00 AM
I used to consider jumping off the story bridge, women trubble hey, but me sense of humor kept saying , it might hurt, water looks cold etc. So I caught another horse... great poem here !
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 6:20:00 AM
Thanks for your comments Don. I think everyone at one time or another has thought about suicide but its those that act upon those thoughts that I worry about. Take care Lee
Date: 9/1/2011 3:34:00 AM
hey Lee congrats on a superb win, great poem, very sad facts you state though.. David
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 6:20:00 AM
Thanks so much David. Much appreciated lee
Date: 8/31/2011 11:39:00 PM
Lee, I was praying all along that it was not a true story for you. It is very sad that it is someone's story though... Thanks for the compelling poem; very well deserved first place win in my contest!
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 9/1/2011 6:19:00 AM
Thanks Shani, I had a colleague commit suicide and its a topic dear to my heart. Thank you so much for the first place win. Its an honour. Lee
Date: 8/30/2011 8:19:00 AM
So many souls in such pain. So sad that these statistics are true. Great writing, Lee. Elaine
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 8/30/2011 10:20:00 AM
Thanks Lee
Date: 8/29/2011 5:46:00 PM
Lee-excellent poem-very powerful-I also like that you included the stats. Good luck in the contest!
Login to Reply
Ramage Avatar
Lee Ramage
Date: 8/29/2011 6:30:00 PM
Thanks so much.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter