Shelby N. Merchen

Shelby N. Merchen

About Shelby N. Merchen

I just starting writing poetry after losing my nephew to suicide. He was only 16. I didn’t know how to process all of the different feelings I was overwhelmed with so I just started writing.
  • visit Website
  • on Facebook
  • on Twitter
  • on Instagram

    Poems by Shelby N. Merchen

  • A Life Worth Living

    • Published: August 2022

    in Inspirational Poems

    I can't wait to hold you in my arms
    And kiss your tiny nose.
    Cherish every moment,
    Knowing just how fast you'll grow.

    More...

    Go To Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 75
    • Favorited 4
    • Votes 32
    • Rating 4.59
  • After You're Gone

    • Published: September 2021

    in STOP Suicide Poems

    I want to paint a picture;
    it's a scene that you should see.
    If you decide to end your life,
    what becomes of your family?

    More...

    Go To Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 105
    • Favorited 15
    • Votes 46
    • Rating 4.72
  • If You Would Have Known


    • Published: September 2020

    in STOP Suicide Poems

    If you could have seen the devastation,
    shattered hearts you'd leave behind, 
    would you still have left this world that day?
    Would it have made you change your mind?

    More...

    Go To Complete Poem

    • Stories 10
    • Shares 2192
    • Favorited 68
    • Votes 547
    • Rating 4.67
    Featured Shared Story

    My father committed suicide a few weeks before my 12th birthday. Most of my life I couldn't have even begun to talk about it. I was the youngest child of 4 children, and I was the only boy....

    Read complete story

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (10)

Stories

  • Shelby N. Merchen, Littleton, CO
  • 3 years ago

Thank you so much for sharing that with me! You are never alone! And you don't have fight life's battles by yourself. Reach out to someone, anyone! There are people ready and waiting by the phone who care about you, and they don't even know you. My heart will forever be broken because my nephew made the choice to leave, maybe he didn't know how much he was loved. I will live with that guilt forever, but knowing that my poem has helped you, fills my heart! So again, thank you for sharing that with me! Never give up! You are important and stronger than you think!!!

Go To Story

  • Shelby N. Merchen, Littleton, CO
  • 3 years ago

Let me clarify my meaning behind the words of my poem as I believe you have misinterpreted them. I am not placing blame on my nephew who died by suicide. If anyone, I blame myself for not making sure he knew how much he was loved and needed. That's what I mean by, "If you would have known." I think it is natural to ask "why?" because as you said, when you are that depressed, you wear a mask so the people around you don't know that you are hurting. It's no surprise that the loved ones left behind will try to make sense of the horrible tragedy. I apologize if you found my poem offensive, but I assure you I wrote it out of love and as an expression of the pain that I was feeling then and continue to feel every day that passes.

Go To Story

Back to Top