“Cast Out” was written for dVerse where Laura Bloomsbury (Hello, Laura!) asked us to write about a deceased person (not someone we know or famous) and give a taste of their life. As I was scrolling through images of gravestones, as you do (Do you? This was my first time. haha), I came upon an Australian site where suicides were separated from the main part of the cemetery. Which is sad, isn’t it? So, this poem came. It may need more work, but here we go. Thank you, Laura!
Here is a link to the article, in case anyone wonders what archaeologists in Australia are doing to acknowledge the people who died from suicides and were buried separate from the main cemetery.
Cast Out
I arrived too early for this world a century or more premature feeling emotions I oughtn’t feel lying naked vulnerable under the glaring sun, glaring eyes finger casting crosses disdain heavy like still air before a bitter storm. For how long should one withstand tumult? Hail slicing skin? Words slicing mind? Before succumbing, glorifying the peaceful postulation of no more? You, my one friend, aimed the last stone, its immense impact abandoning me to my wretched torment conjuring poisons, blades, cliffs pointing Daddy’s war Winchester at my slandered soul. I wish I’d heard the “boom.” Did anyone cry? I almost touched their relief, a breeze in July’s valley. “We live free of her shadow.” Here I lie a blank headstone separate in the cemetery next to another nameless abandoned like me. Cast out in life, cast out in death.
©Sascha Darlington
“the peaceful postulation of no more”… Great line! Your poem really captures that feeling of not fitting in.
Thank you so much! 🙂
A powerful poem. veterans, the homeless and teens–their depression so dark and deep they can’t come up for air. A serious topic, and the irony of never escaping being an outcast is so sad. My girlfriend’s brother had mental problems. At one point it looked like he was getting better. The next morning he jumped off a freeway overpass and was hit by three cars.
That is so sad, but you can never tell. I’ve lost two people in my life to suicide. It sticks with you. Thank you for commenting! (I apologize for the late reply. You ended up in spam for some reason.)
A beautifully sad heart wrenching poem!
💖 Thank you so much. 🙂
Nice phrase “finger casting crosses”. Well told sad tale.
Thank you, Frank! 🙂
Ah! This is a beautiful poem, that moved my heart. 🙂
Thank you so much! 😊
You are welcome. 🙂
Separating suicides from the rest of the graves by burying them in unconsecrated ground used to be commonplace. Even now, the Roman Catholic church considers suicide to be a mortal sin. It is very sad, as is your heart-breaking poem, Sascha, with your speaker exposed and out of place ‘lying naked vulnerable under the glaring sun’ with the ‘finger casting crosses’. My favourite lines are:
‘For how long
should one withstand
tumult? Hail slicing skin?
Words slicing mind?
Before succumbing, glorifying
the peaceful postulation
of no more?’
What on earth did she do to become so rejected that she chose to take her own life? And how terrible that she wonders if anyone cried.
Thank you so much, Kim. I was aware of suicide being a mortal sin but had no idea, nor really thought about it to be honest, the burial if the body, how it would be separated from others.
thank you for joining in -you did so well with this prompt – bringing back the life of a very tormented soul. Full of compassion and understanding.
Thank you so much, Laura, for providing such an interesting prompt. And thank you for your comments. 😊
Another fine example of compassion in Christianity!
There does seem to be a disconnect between the teachings of Christ and people who call themselves Christian.
They manage to twist them around to suit their personal agendas though.
Your last line is powerful
Thank you so much, Debi! 🙂
Leaving to our imagination who is the friend who cast the final stone. Herself? Someone who betrayed her? Or Daddy’s Winchester. So moving.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Truly devastating understanding how the living felt relief as she took her own life.
Some, even family, care more about appearances than about their flesh and blood. Thanks, Bjorn.
kaykuala
The laments of those who died alone and unknown. One could feel their regret!
Hank
Thank you so much! 🙂
You’ve really captured the soul in pain. (K)
Thank you. 🙂
I found the line “I wish I’d heard the boom.” Incredibly poignant. It sounded so young and so many of our young ones take their own live.
You’re right. Far too many young people feel overlooked, isolated. Thank you, Christine.
Beautiful, sad and poignant. Thank you for this read
Thank you so much! 💖