"Guys Talking Suicide"

by Everett Cox

I've got a half dozen guys talking suicide. 
They all say the same thing:
When I say suicide 
I'm not talking suicide. 
But 
But will you bring me a gun 
with one bullet. 
I say 
if I bring you a gun 
I will bring 
two bullets. 
Because 
I've had enough of this shit. 
If you fucking go 
I'm going with you. 
That's what I'm here for. 
Vet peer support. 
Listen vets!
When we can't live for ourselves. 
Live for someone else. 
No doubt 
it can be complicated. 
But 
when you've reached for the gun and bullet 
live for someone else. 
Live for the one who loves you the most. 
Some vets tell me they love me

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Everett Cox was born and raised on a farm in Warwick, NY. He worked as a laborer most of his life, including 25 years as a self-employed housepainter. He enlisted in the U.S. Army 1966, serving first with Third Infantry Division, Germany and finishing his enlistment with the 245th Surveillance Airplane Company, Marble Mountain Airbase, Viet Nam, 1969. He has a wonderful son.

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This week on the Savage Wonder podcast…

This is one of those conversations I won't forget easily. I spoke the unbelievably honest, vulnerable and thoughtful Leilani Squire about her childhood as a Navy brat during the Korean War, her deep dive into nefarious activities during her early adulthood, her iron-willed classical dance training, and, ultimately, her highly disciplined and inspiring writing career as a poet and playwright.

Leilani is the winner of our inaugural 10-minute playwriting competition. About her play 15 DEAD SOULS, the judges said it was “poetic, touching, powerfully written.  Earnest — which is good — but also not sentimental.  Haunting and affecting.”

Leilani Squire is a writer, certified creativity coach, and works with active duty, veterans and their families to help them tell their stories through the written word. She is founder and CEO of the nonprofit Returning Soldiers Speak and an associate member of EST/LA where she is also part of their playwrighting unit.

Follow her here.