Depth Perception

By Trigger

How do you want to die?
.

.

.

In a way that is meaningful, passionate, maybe for a cause....
A purpose.

Choosing how to die is easy,
Choosing how to live is difficult.

What do you see when you look around?
The world? Life? Love?
Hate?

How deeply can you see into what matters?

What matters?

What is important?
Life? Love? Hate?

When did you last smile at a stranger?

A story comes to mind...

In San Francisco, a note was discovered on a man's dresser Several days after his death.
It read; I am going to the bridge tonight... if any one person bothers to smile at me on the way there,
I won't jump.

How do you want to die?

Painlessly? Quickly?

No death is slow... you live, live, live, and die.

No in-between, no near-deaths,
Simply; death.

How deeply do we see into eachother?

I see the pain etched on the faces of the people I pass...

I don't smile.

I see the love in lovers' eyes,
I see the hate in the beaten child,
I see the anger in the betrayed,
The sadness in the newly alone,
And the happiness in the newly discovered.

I don't smile.

How deeply do we really see into eachother?
What do you feel as you read these words?
Sad? Lost? Hurt?

I may not know what you feel, and I may not even know what
I feel

But I know the love, hate, anger, and sadness.
I see it every day in the mirror.

I don't smile.

A difference could have been made on that night at the bridge,
But nobody knew him, and so nobody cared.

Does this inspire change in you?
Or will you be as selfish as I have become?

I see the pain,

I see it every day.

And I don't smile.

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Published on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Filed under: "Poetry"

Comments on "Depth Perception"

A former member wrote: I used to be just like you, your write describes my past self. A lot of emotion is shown here. Keep up the good work.
A former member wrote: this really hit me. i try to keep a positive outlook on things and i try to help people. but im guilty of not smiling. of not reaching out to a stranger, who may or may not need it. i TRULY like your work. it shows a personal side. its obvious that its REAL emotions. i hope to see new works. i would love to read them.
On Friday, March 14, 2008, Echoes of Orpheus (357) wrote:

This is hard to read a lot of your writes in one sitting, I'm still dwelling on thoughts from the last ones. You have a talent for making the reader think. The repetition in this piece added a nice effect when I read it, well done
On Monday, February 25, 2008, Sparrow (88) wrote:

Thought provoking... But I don't smile.
On Thursday, February 21, 2008, Lawless Fighter (37) wrote:

As I always say. . .life without love. . .thats life. . .love without life. . well. . that my friends is called Necrophilia!
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, denver nitze (251) wrote:

wow.
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, Organized_Chaos (9) wrote:

That really gets you thinking, nice work.
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, thelostmessenger (110) wrote:

i'll remember to smile :) tragic, but the message is powerful. great write. makes u wonder... *messenger
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, Bella Butchery (696) wrote:

i cant remember exactly where, but i have heard "Choosing how to die is easy, Choosing how to live is difficult." i forget who said it... i think it was che or castro.... probably castro
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, Trigger (68) wrote:

The San Francisco story is true. It happened some years ago. I may not have quoted the note verbatum, but it is very close.