The View From Halfway Down is a symbolic poem read by Secretariat in The View from Halfway Down, in Season 6. BackgroundSeason 6In The View from Halfway Down, Secretariat takes the stage and starts reading his poem “The View From Halfway Down." When he’s partway through, the spotlight reveals the open door behind Secretariat, but Secretariat assures the audience that he’s not finished yet. When he gets to the part of his poem where he starts expressing regret for committing suicide in the first place, Secretariat starts to panic and the door inches its way closer to him. Secretariat continues to panic saying he's changed his mind, as Herb tries to console him. As Secretariat regrets not admiring the view from halfway down after he jumped off the bridge, he stumbles backward and falls through the door frame and disappears into the darkness. SymbolismSecretariat right before his death. This poem may have been written for suicide prevention. It largely surrounds the final moments of a suicidal Secretariat, having jumped off the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge and realizing that he wanted to live but that living was no longer an option "halfway down." Also important to note, the poem goes from the third person to the second person, to the first person. Secretariat didn't want to go through the door, but it's all spelled out there in the poem. PoemThe View From Halfway DownThe weak breeze whispers nothing Toes untouch the overpass A little wind, a summer sun You’re flying now,
you see things Thrash to break from gravity But this is it, the deed is done I really should’ve thought about Trivia
Resources
[Intro: Henry D'Arthenay] |