Suicide's Note

Okay so I know this is probably really weird, but I was really struck by Langston Hughes' poem "Suicide's Note" (on pg. 15 of Sound and Sense) First of all, it's on such a taboo topic. The word suicide usually jumps out us (no matter if it's spoken or said) and I think the gossiper in all of us just kind of jumps at the chance to know what's going and who killed themselves when we see such a word. So I think that was one of the main reasons this poem kind of caught my attention.

Secondly, after reading the poem, it kind of struck me how it is one of the (if not the) shortest poems in the book and that I've ever read, but it doesn't really need to be any longer. It perfectly sums up it's subject in just three lines and in an ingeniously non-morbid way. I mean, summing up someone's reason for drowning themselves by simply personifying the river as asking them for a kiss, I think, is both incredibly poetic and really ingenious. And although I think most people have problems much deeper that cause them to want to commit suicide than such a simple note conveys, I think Hughes does a nice job conveying the information (or lack of information) that most suicide notes would give.

I don't know, there's not really much to analyze about it, but I really found this poem to be incredibly thought provoking and striking in a way much different than some of the others in the book....did it have this effect on anyone else?

Comments

[Abby O]

Langston Hughes is actually one of my favorite writers and its understandable why you would like this poem. Your right, the word 'suicide' jumps out at you no matter what and the poem is very moving because it lets your mind wander about the river and kiss. I'm pretty sure this is a haiku.

[Scott M.]

I thought that the most striking part of this poem was its similarity to the personification of the Elbe river in Wolfgang Borchert's play Draussen vor der Tuer (Outside the Door):

"Did you think that I was a romantic young woman with a clear complexion? Like Ophelia, with water-roses in wet hair? Did you think that you could spend eternity in my lily-arms? No, my son, that was your mistake. I am neither romantic nor sweet smelling. A respectable river stinks."

I also agree with your insight about how surprisingly non-morbid the poem is. I think that this provides some clue as to the way suicidal people do not necessarily think of their death as morbid, but rather glorify it. Death, I think, becomes the way out, the gate to happiness (the kiss of the river).

[Tara]

I see that this posting is really quite old but wanted to comment on it anyhow, but not so much in an analyzing way. I fell in love with this poem when I was a somewhat suicidal teenager. I had it written everywhere on binders on books i always had it somewhere. 10 years later I got it tattooed on my body with a fairy looking into a river but I left out the title. People really think its a beautiful poem when they are able to interpret it themselves, some people get really mad when they find out I have tattooed a suicide note on myself after I tell them what its called. I dont tend to tell people the title anymore just the author. I am not suicidal its just something that was really part of my life that I have since conquered hence leaving the poem untitled for personal interpretation.

[Lindsey Dallas Rosser]

This is my favorite quote, and ever since i read it in one of my sister's literature books it has stuck with me. People think it's crazy for that to be my favorite poem, but i just love the fact three little lines can send chills up my spine ever time i say or read it. Langston Hughes is wonderful, glad to know I'm crazy for loving it.