“The No Hemlock Rock” by Jennifer Hecht

Don’t kill yourself.

Don’t.

Eat a donut.

Be a blown nut.

That is, if you’re going to kill yourself, stand on a street corner rhyming “seizure” with “Indonesia.”

And “wreck it” with “racket.”

Allow medical terms.

Rave and fail.

Be an absurd living ghost if necessary.

But don’t kill yourself.

Let your friends know that something has passed.

Or be glad they’ve guessed.

But don’t kill yourself.

If you stay — but are bat crazy — you will batter their hearts in blooming scores of anguish, but

Kill yourself and hundreds of other people die.

Poison yourself, it poisons the well.

Shoot yourself, it cracks the biodome.

I will give badges to everyone who’s figured this out about suicide and hence rejected it.

I’m grateful.

Stay.

Thank you for staying.

Please, stay.

You are my hero for staying.

I know about it and I’m grateful you stay.

Eat a donut.

Rhyme “opus” with “lotus.”

“Rope” is “bogus psychosis.”

Stay.

“Hocus pocus.”

Don’t kill yourself.

I won’t either.