RJ Walker - A Seance for the Boy I Let Die
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
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RJ Walker, performing at Button Poetry Live, January 2017.
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"If there's any spirits present they may make themselves known. I know you're there dead boy - I know you're there cause I carry you everywhere". WOW
"To be a medic is to be a campfire, a thing that holds ghost stories. " that speaks volumes.
Ok, this cut deep with me. About a year and 1/2 ago, my mom died due to a paramedics mistake. It was an accident, I know that, and my mom never took good care of herself. But still, I was angry for a long time. I've forgiven them, but it doesn't make her death any easier. Then, hearing this poem about a medic carrying the death of a patient with him really got to me. Thank you, RJ, for sharing this deeply personal story in such a beautifully tragic way!
"I summon you here now, to ask. Not for forgiveness, but of forgiveness. Is it even a word in the language of the dead?"
Wow.
Man, RJ is one of the best poets I've ever heard. All his poems cut deep and are everlasting.
Keep going, friend. You're gifted.
It never really occured to me how heavy it is to be a medic. You have the lives of people upon your hands. It'll be in your conscience forever if something bad happens.
In EMS or pre-hospital settings, you see so much. After working a year as an EMT, I am still haunted by a lot of my experiences with patients. I never loss a patient in my ambulance but there's things in this world you can never un-see. I'd be lying if I said most days were bad. Actually, most days were good. I've met so many patients who openly talk about their life stories including the struggles, rehab, surgeries, family, spouse/dating partner. I enjoyed my conversations with every patient. I learned a lot from my patients and my world view continually expanded after each conversation. Although, there were only a few bad days when I worked in EMS, I'll never forget those days. I sit and wonder sometimes if a patient lived after being taken to the ER or other medical facility. Even though you only spend a short time with each patient, those moments still have a great impact.
To all of my fellow EMS workers, thank you! I know how hard you work every day in all weather conditions, in every part of the city, and for 24 hours/7 days a week.
This gave me chills. He expressed his emotions beautifully.
Out of all the Button poets... Nora Cooper... Doc Luebec... Neil Hilborn.. everyone.. RJ is so much more relatable. I've been an EMT for 15 years in the field. 15 years of logs. Except.... my logs have burned down to ash, but the ash and the smoke remains to reform nightly into those logs that were placed...
One day, I want to see RJ perform live.
i still think about this poem often. when people talk about poetry, this is the one I remember. It hits a bit harder now.
I can't remember which was the last poem that brought tears to my eyes but you've just done it. Such powerfull words are rare to find
Ive heard this poem years ago once and had been looking for this poem ever since and i could never find it and i genuinely gave up thinking i would never find it again and here it is here it finnaly is
“and i cannot speak yours without smoke in my throat i’m sorry -“ fuck that killed me
I love his poems😭
I know this is a serious poem and i love it... but i love your shirt
Saige Kauffman NIGHT IN THE WOODS!
RJ Walker “At the end of everything, hold on to anything.”
This was heavy.
I have full body goosebumps. This is beautiful. You are strong. So much love in this.
I’m absolutely gutted.
Such a powerful poem
HOLY SHIT ..
One could feel the emotion... 😢
this is one of the most powerful pieces I've ever heard. incredible 💙💙
Man this cuts so deep
Wow. Just. Wow.
I think i found my new favorite channel...
That just hit a little too close to home for me. Gonna go cry in my corner now. Great poem nonetheless
This is beautiful.... emotions expressed... Hi
thank you
This kills me
YES RJ.
Dammmm...
I've been a Medic do 17 years now. This made absolute sense.
Powerful
I don’t really understand what the poem is about. Anyone care to explain?
ZZFORREAL he was a paramedic, he was doing triage (so there were a bunch of patients all at once) his job was to evaluate each patient and give them 1 of four coloured bands, black means the person can not be saved and to not waste precious time, he had to give the black band to a young boy who was still alive but past the point of saving and he carries the guilt of it
I don't understand the importance of the black wristband. Can anyone help?
In the medical field, when you triage someone and you mark them with a black tag or wristband, it means that they are either dead or not worth the time or resources to save. If that boy had been marked with red instead, they would have worked on saving him instead. It's basically representing the death sentence he gave the boy by giving him the black wristband
Dang. Really gokd
I want his shirt
Wow
2 words
Holy. Fuck.
Dang heavy owo also first
This guy should spend less time writing crap hipster poems and more time with a bar of soap
Wow. I am shocked that is what you took away from the poem.
I appreciate the insight you and your comment provide though! Bless your heart!