Scene4 Magazine: Richard Cory’s Untold Story | David Alpaugh December 2011 …Richard Cory
Whenever Richard Cory went downtown,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still, he fluttered pulses when he said,
‘Good-morning,’ and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich – yes, richer than a king –
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
-Edwin Arlington Robinson
“It is so far to look up when he stands so high above us..”Yes, today is not Friday; so this is not the Friday Night Poetry Corner…
I wanted to discuss a doleful poem of sorts. I remember this from a long time ago. “Richard Cory” by Edward Arlington Robinson. It stuck with me for over 20yrs, yes over 20. Now granted I am not a morbid person by any means. A positive outlook on life is always at the forefront of my thinking, the essence of my being.
It is just me to be a dreamer for a better tomorrow.
This is my take on his masterpiece, and I believe it is not an original viewpoint either. He was a sad man this Richard Cory. All the fame, money, and good looks in the world could not save him from utter depression to the point of taking his own life. How could a person sink so low to a point not want to exist?
Not ever to experience a family of their own, no children.
No visit to beautiful places like beaches, parks, fun parks vacations in far countries or remote cities.
No discussion of movies with friends and foes alike if they enjoyed the thrill of a vibrant yet competitive conversation.
Never to spend time with a person who makes them feel everything among anything in an unacceptable world. That life energy that would never be taken fully; even by the greatest of all personal tragedy.
How they would never taste their favorite food again.
Waiting for an up and coming movie in which they waited for years to come out (Prometheus anyone)??
Drinking with good friends at a local pub/bar, enjoying people watching and eye candy of their respective delights.
How in the world would they not want to see what tomorrow brings in the form of a surprise, yet hopeful optimistic result engrossed in personal thinking?
Well in the case of Richard Cory he had none of those ambitions,
just an empty soul.
And that my good people hurt the soul of anyone who is empathic towards human suffering without the knowledge of knowing that a person is truly suffering. Each one please help one. One thing to understand that when people who need help who are in great pain do not expect an open cry for help because most like you won’t hear one. There are signs, important signs you must heed for example:
*A change in behavior, more so a drastic change from he or she’s the norm.
*Talks of the future with them not in it
*Talks of wanting to hurt themselves
*Giving away possessions that they once cherished.
There are more and for more information please visit this site:
and please call if you are feeling this way, believe this you are love and there is someone you can talk to and that person is here:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Thank you for taking the time to read this, oh opinions wanted and needed.
I like the poem but then, I like that sort of dark type stuff. To your point, you never truly know, do you? Each of us can, in ourselves, exist in a very extreme and trying place, a place that’s somewhat shielded from the sight of even those close to us. Did I say, i really liked the poem?
Hey I admire your good taste in poetry!!
Also I see your point and agree would we truly know if a person is going through such pain, such agony. Even the closet of friends might be able shield that from us.
Such a place of extreme is a place where if i ever thread i would truly hope some light follows me so i would know my way back.
thanks for the response, greatly appreciate your wisdom.
if we all help one person, even one person i believe the world will become substantially happier. loved your take on the sad, very sad poem!
thank you!
working with families and children suicide is a very serious, tough topic that needs more light on it. to a degree a lot of destructive vices people indulged in has some similar symptoms to suicide–
escape reality..
Thanks for the wisdom :o)