The View From Halfway Down is a symbolic poem read by Secretariat in The View from Halfway Down, in Season 6.
Background[]
Season 6[]
In 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.
Symbolism[]
Secretariat 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.
Poem[]
The View From Halfway Down[]
The weak breeze whispers nothing
the water screams sublime.
His feet shift, teeter-totter
deep breaths, stand back, it’s time.
Toes untouch the overpass
soon he’s water-bound.
Eyes locked shut but peek to see
the view from halfway down.
A little wind, a summer sun
a river rich and regal.
A flood of fond endorphins
brings a calm that knows no equal.
You’re flying now, you see things
much more clear than from the ground.
It's all okay, or it would be
were you not now halfway down.
Thrash to break from gravity
what now could slow the drop?
All I’d give for toes to touch
the safety back at top.
But this is it, the deed is done
silence drowns the sound.
Before I leaped I should've seen
the view from halfway down.
I really should’ve thought about
the view from halfway down.
I wish I could've known about
the view from halfway down—
Trivia[]
- Both the poem and the episode of the same title were written for BoJack Horseman by Alison Tafel.
- Secretariat and Butterscotch Horseman were blended into a single hybrid character during BoJack's dream sequence:
- This may be because Secretariat was more of a father figure and role model towards BoJack growing up than his actual father was.
- Raphael Bob-Waksberg was initially unsure if they could get John Krasinski back to voice Secretariat, however after seeing Will Arnett's performance for the role they decided to stick with Arnett.[1]
- Before reading the poem, Secretariat says "A poem. Original, obviously," a reference to BoJack's "Horseman, obviously" catchphrase.