Why is poetry such a high-risk field? (Is it, or does it just seem that way?)

[AlienGirl]

I don't normally read about the lives of other poets, except ones I really fall in love with like A.E. Housman, but I'm reading through a thick anthology of modern poetry that has a bio of every poet in it. Geez, an awful lot of the best ones die of suicide; and the ones who don't seem to have attempted it or contemplated it at least once. Even Robert Frost got suicidal!

What do you suppose it is that causes this? Or am I just seeing a pattern where none actually exists?

Tucker

[Atticus]

1. Knowing our wings are wax, we nonetheless soar sunward. nt

[Petrushka]

2. Here's an interesting study that throws some light on the subject . . .

http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/full/63/4/517