63 Comments

Thanks for sharing this @rena, I’m grateful

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Oh, Paul. I hope we're starting to wake up. Why does there have to be such a void between despair and compassion? Your words help build the bridge.

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Judgment always seems so easy, doesn’t it, Ann? Thanks for reading and commenting.

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Anyone who criticizes death by suicide has little to no comprehension of the ravages of mental illness nor of the masks that brilliant people wear just to get by everyday. Thank you for this awesome poem 🙏💕

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I agree, Gracey—Thank you for your comment

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Nor people they’ve known and loved who chose it.

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.. exactly so .. 🦎🏴‍☠️

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It’s so easy for people to rip into souls, from behind the shield of a computer. Anonymous assassins.

Thank you for words that inform and heal.

Great poem, Paul!

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Thank you, Sharon

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Words truly hold such power, I appreciate you lending your voice to explore what it means to be human.

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What it means to be human—Something we all know and yet something so easy to forget. Thanks for the comment

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Thank you for articulating this so beautifully.

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Thank you for sharing. I have my own experiences professionally as a nurse and personally with my own demons. I only just found the courage to share some of them. The fear of being judged kept me from sharing, but the silence and secrets actually hurt me the most. 💗

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Perfect. Such a sad thing. May his beautiful soul have its deserved peace.

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Thanks for the comment, Aaron

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aah I feel empathy reading this poem, Paul. Like they say, you can never take back words, the tongue doesn't have a spine. So be kind kind kind give love love love. Thank you for another beautiful poem 🧡

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Thank you for the wonderful comment, Mo!

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Your poem captures the profound pain words can inflict, highlighting the relentless judgment faced by those burdened with their own unshakeable demons.

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Thank you, Gloria—Many of the comments I read on social media at the time of Bourdain's death in 2018 had that "kick 'em when their down" feeling, only Bourdain could never get up to answer on his own

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Anthony Bourdain was one of my favorite people. He was able to kick heroin addiction which is very difficult to do. He seemed to want to be around for his daughter to grow up but, apparently, his inner demons finally caught up with him. Since we have been unable to master the art of telepathy, we have no idea what is going on in someone else's mind. It is therefore the heighth of arrogance to make assumptions about what drove him to commit this act. Alas, poor Anthony, we hardly knew ye! Requiescat In Pace!

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A truly beautiful, compassionate poem.

Outstanding, Paul!

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Thank you, Monica

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Saying it gently is more devastating than telling them to go to hell, and louder. x

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yep! who are we to judge any other.

we cannot see their inner world nor pain

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Yes. There is deep healing we have to embrace in giving people the out they need when they want to end their own life. We never want to get into Power struggles with suicidal parts. Peace for whatever healing people need in this lifetime.

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Thank you for reading and commenting, Viola.

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I love Anthony. I watch him about everyday. I’ve read a lot. This is a great poem. It captures his essence.

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Thank you, Stan

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I didn’t know anything about the man prior to his untimely death. I then watched a few videos, and was drawn to his character. His irreverence and politeness.

A lovely soul.

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He brought his love of food and world culture into the living rooms of people all over this country.

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Yes he did. There are tons of programs I can find and listen and watch the man, now. I missed how and when he became famous. Too much work and a lack of interest in the telly in general.

A genuine, no bs type of fella. A terrible loss. Thanks for this Paul.

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Lovely. I remember being surrounded by adults who criticized active who died by divide as a child…baffles my mind how there can be that little compassion.

Beautiful piece Paul.

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Thank you for understanding, Brian

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