Anthony Bourdain: A Eulogy In Haiku

anthony-bourdain-suicide-death

His death striking me
Suicide’s painful cruelty
What ate his heart so?

I learned a lot from him
Though we weren’t friends, nor had met
But that’s not the point

His show connected with me
I felt a kinship via his journeys
And deeper knowledge

His travels: unique
He went off the beaten path
A road less taken

His show; self-aware
Acknowledging some deceits
Never caught a fish

No angel was he
A comfort with his darkness
Yet not quite enough

Bourdain won Emmys
And also a Peabody
Awards can’t save us

“Everything” he had
All the pieces he held up
Yet he felt despair

His pain surfacing
After great wealth and great fame
Worse than in failure

So many faiths
Preach there’s more to our lives
Than wealth or our fame

There’s an emptiness
In this life we envision
We must be wary

Moments

At times
It is hard to remember
All the good in the world
Despair is a cruel teacher

Grapple with thankfulness
And accept the grace of love
That comes, truly, it comes
Often unexpectedly

The world afire in rage

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p style=”font-family:"”>This world’s rages wearying 

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p style=”font-family:"”>Compassion’s grace derided 

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p style=”font-family:"”>Misery and grief 

Fun

Ground down from despair
Filled with negativity
Hating the word “fun”

Loneliness

Such a strange thing,
This loneliness within
Despair’s deep abyss
For it harbors many,
Many hearts.