Ariel's Passing

Saturday October 26th, 2003 was a gorgeous Autumn day. JB and I went to see an afternoon matinee in Bethesda. We arrived about an hour early and spent some time in an art gallery talking with its owner before making our way to the movie theater. We went to see “Sylvia” starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia Plath. I left the theater with a very heavy heart and the next day, after church, I wrote a poem of sorts…


I lit a candle for Sylvia Plath today.
I felt a little silly but I did it anyway.
It burned for an hour or two
In a little stone church
Before an icon of the crucifixion.

During the liturgy
I stole occasional glances
At the shrinking candle.
To the sound of chanting
I saw the 10 year old girl
Take a handful of sleeping pills.
With the smell of incense in the air
I watched her crawl under her house
To die in the cramped darkness.
With the bell ringing in the tower
Her mother found her 3 days later.

The service ends.
The cross is venerated.
The candle flickers out.
And 20 years later
Sylvia finally succeeds
In snuffing out her own life.

Lord have mercy on her soul.