Sound & Sense Blog #1: Suicide's Note

Although it is a brief poem , "Suicide's Note" embodies a contrasting theme. The diction and tone of the poem makes suicide seem like a beautiful and poetic action, when in reality it is a tragedy. The title humanizes suicide as it suggests that the note was written to the speaker by suicide itself. Likewise, the use of personification in the description of the river intensifies and romanticizes the situation in a disturbing manner: "The calm, / Cool face of the river" (1-2). The speaker is conflicted with a choice between two people: life and death. Between the two choices, the river seems to be the most compelling as the speaker says, "Asked me for a kiss" (3). Someone who is contemplating suicide has ultimately lost all hope in life, and finds that there is no other outlet except death. The river seems to be a place of peace and serenity which appeals to the victim.