For Marian’s challenge at Real Toads. We are to write a tetractys poem – 1-2-3-4-10 Syllable count per line. I am deeply saddened by the suicide of Anthony Bourdain.
“As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks — on your body or on your heart — are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.” Anthony Bourdain
After
I.
An
empty
place setting
at the table.
Pour the wine. Free spirit drinks with a smile.
II.
Knives
are still.
Dust settles.
Pans are empty.
The kitchen is silent and still, waiting
Suicide happens when a person’s emotional pain exceeds their ability to cope with that pain. But there is help. If you are in trouble, pick up that ten ton phone–tomorrow can be better, even if you don’t believe it right now. National Suicide Prevention Help Line: 1-800-273-TALK.
kanzen sakura 
Jun 09, 2018 @ 23:09:31
(Marian’s challenge) I love the first one … cheers. The second makes me sad. Well done.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 03:08:54
This is incredibly poignant, Toni!
Jun 10, 2018 @ 03:13:29
The first celebrates his life and the second is so poignant, Toni, especially ‘The kitchen is silent and still waiting’.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 09:41:27
A sensitive tribute, Toni. I am not familiar with this man, but may judge his positive impact on the collective consciousness by the outpouring of kind thoughts at his untimely passing. The world is a hard place to live in but all lives matter.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 09:43:04
Sooooo tragic, sooooo sad, impossible to express but you’ve done well with sparse words. I thought you might like this form. I rather love it 🙂
Thank you for this. It’s been very hard to hold all of this and everything else that’s swirling around us.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 16:20:47
Yes it has been very hard. It will take me awhile to warm up to this form. Thank you for the challenge.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 11:18:47
Love the first one, soon time to pour me some wine… the empty kitchen looks almost like a cemetery in your words
Jun 10, 2018 @ 16:18:38
A kitchen without a cook is indeed a cemetery.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 13:17:45
Lovely tribute to Mr. Bourdain …. so very sad.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 14:44:02
I had tears in my eyes…reading about the silent kitchen. I love them both.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 17:29:17
What is it when such a presence in the cookery is gone? All of this … stillness. The rhythms of the form allow an outpouring of something — grief — out of succinct emptiness.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 17:33:15
Well captured.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 19:01:15
Two beautiful and apt tributes.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 19:31:34
I can feel that empty chair at the table, hear the silence in the empty kitchen. Sigh. But I love the free spirit that drinks wine with a smile, accepting that life does have these painful passages.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 19:32:50
This is a beautiful tribute, Toni. As you know, I too am saddened by the loss of this man. There will be an empty place at many tables, with him gone. The kitchen will forever wait his return…in vain.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 21:30:42
How terrible to lose all hope completely and it is hard to contemplate. The hurts in life are sometimes devastating but hope is still there waiting to help.
Jun 10, 2018 @ 21:36:17
A fine tribute, in terms he would understand.
Jun 11, 2018 @ 01:43:58
Ecstasy and agony in two stanzas—part of life. Sigh. A beautiful tribute.
Jun 11, 2018 @ 05:01:06
RIP Anthony Bourdain. I salute the people who man those suicide prevention help lines.. can’t imagine how many lives they must have saved. Wish everyone could get help when such despair sets in.
Jun 11, 2018 @ 11:04:10
They’re both fine tributes but the second is my favorite. It’s so sad.
ps–glad you liked my blurb. Hopefully it will help someone.
Jun 11, 2018 @ 14:19:44
Suicide is becoming so prevalent and is on the increase. Your poem is poignant and timely.
Jun 11, 2018 @ 21:41:48
The CDC Has announced a steady increase in suicides in the US. Makes me wonder if Trump has furnished the feeling of helplessness
Jun 12, 2018 @ 08:52:36
A beautiful poem for Anthony.
Jun 12, 2018 @ 20:06:41
Thank you for the chaptersquake on the lake