What Was Richard Corey Thinking Poem by Richard Lackman

What Was Richard Corey Thinking

Rating: 3.5


Now at the age of sixty, I am quite prepared to die
I am neither old nor sickly but have no reason to try
To add another decade for no purpose or no gain
As I've had all the experiences I wanted to attain

At this point going forward there is nothing but decline
As things I could do easily are now no longer mine
It‘s now hard to read the paper with my right hand shaking so
And as for my many interests, I just no longer go

Leaves that fall around me, remind me every day
That though God put us here he never meant for us to stay
And as things go six decades are quite long enough for me
As I've seen enough of suffering and enough uncertainty

I also know that life is not just valued by its length
But rather by our valor and our loving and our strength
I know that each of us must give account of what we've done
So I'll hasten this review and pull the trigger on this gun

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
I have always been perplexed by witnessing people who seem to have everything to live for end their lives prematurely. As such this poem explores the possible emotions of Edward Arlington Robinson's protagonist in his poem 'Richard Corey'.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kim Barney 15 January 2020

Great poem! Very good rhythm and rhyme. I, too, am perplexed by so many suicides. I am long past sixty, but my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren keep me feeling young. The other day my three-year-old grandson made me burst out laughing when he started to tell me something. He said: " When I was a little kid..." and that was as far as he got before I lost it!

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Bri Edwards 24 January 2015

i too almost wish i would die soon; i'm 66. but it is not due to the nasty things around me or even because i don't relish old, old age and the physical and mental frailties which often develop (though those are considerations!) . i feel i've lived a full-enough life, have lived up to whatever responsibilities i've taken on, and that the resources which i use [food, water, electricity, gasoline (though most of my driving is only to satisfy my home boss) , toilet paper, etc.] could be used for someone else who otherwise might not have enough. call me altruistic if you will. but i'm not rushing to suicide just yet for a large-enough number of reasons, one of which i suppose is PH and the friends i have here. what WOULD they do without ME! ! ? as for the skill of the poet here: great lines with great rhyming! to MyPoemList it goes. zooooooooooooooooom! bri :) p.s. Cory?

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Valerie Dohren 24 February 2012

You've another five to go before you get to my age.

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