After the initial sorrow that comes with heartbreak, there is almost anger, a fierce willingness to not be beat down by it, a feisty refusal. And if there's one thing I admire it's feistiness!
Forget all the sad laments of heartbreak poems, here's a I'll-be-damned-if-you-gonna-beat-me-down riposte from Langston Hughes:
Life is Fine - Langston Hughes
I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.
I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.
But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!
I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.
I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.
But it was High up there! It was high!
So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love-
But for livin' I was born
Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry-
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.
Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!
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