May 2017.
The world went quiet
and I was in jail.
Trying not to cry—
I wanted to be in the sky
or on a highway somewhere,
when Chris Cornell left
this earth,
that haunted
sanctuary of a voice
burning through the speakers
like a bottle rocket,
fighting demons in every note.
Robin—
laughter stopped mid-stride.
Comic genius swallowed
by despair.
A mind staring hard at reality—
what a concept—
turning joy into shadow
as dawn shattered
into a million broken smiles.
Chester—
two months after Chris.
Friends in life,
echoes in death.
His skin simply too
much to inhabit.
That climbing, aching cry—
crawling toward
something better,
or maybe just away from pain.
Three fathers. Three artists.
Burning too bright,
leaving too soon.
Demons whispering behind
their brilliance.
Bleeding inside…
behind the flame of Babylon.
I knew the nights,
tasting like whiskey
and
whispered hallelujahs.
The days overflowing
like rivers of shit.
I walked the hellish streets,
their voices my soundtrack—
numb and febrile under a
beaten sky,
watching the balloons float off
into someone else’s party,
demons trailing in every shadow.
I know the cost of
of feeling like you
have to be “on”
all the goddamn time.
Next month
I’ll be three years sober—
holding on to whatever light I can,
because I know the darkness
far too fucking well.
I carry their music,
and Robin’s laughter,
in my bones and bloodstream—
their pain folded into my own
black dog days.
Rest in peace, boys.
hello dearest Thomas I have come so far I can feel you there…I’ll meet you there alone…Robyn was beautiful always giving to others…congratulations on you sobriety I wish I could say the same it’s not in the cards for me and the dark is constant company ❤️
I hear you. It’d not over until it’s over. Don’t give up. Thanks for stopping by.
Powerfully penned, Thomas. Excellent tribute write my friend. We’re losing so many voices far too early, I feel this one. Congrats on three years of sobriety brother. Lucky for us, we walked away from that demon. But no one walks away unscathed, we carry those scars still. Appreciate you.
Damian
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Robin was a hard blow to so many of all generations. When the darkness swallows them whole, it leaves us a little broken. This is an incredible tribute to those voices and a great example of your own. Those 3 years are a thing to be proud of, I know they can’t have been easy. Congratulations!
Much appreciated.
I can’t tell You how this touchs me personally… Profound, genuine, sincere and moving the innerself in a whole way. This is a true masterpiece not only as poetry, but as feelings and human nature. Thank You for writing and sharing this truly outstanding piece 🤍
Thank you.
Thomas loss was never painted more strongly with with such sad nostalgia as in this poem. Loved this and could feel it deep down. Because most of my old friend have passed on too. I miss them and see myself in your poem.
John