Such devastating news. I found out yesterday and I've been heartbroken since. The world has lost a wonderful person and an amazing poet. He will be missed by so many. x

Do you know what happened Chels? I read he passed in his sleep.

This is hard for me to understand.. Jay was such a live soul, I'll comment more when my brain can deal better..

It hurts. More than words can.. you know.. communicate.

Terrible news, totally gobsmacked.

John

It is such a shock. It doesn't seem possible. Rest in Peace Poet! You and your words will be sorely missed, but your generous soul will never be forgotten.

Mirthy <3

its such shocking news to hear.. i cant believe hes gone but he wont be forgotten

His family isn't sure what happened, they're still waiting for results.

RIP Jay

There are no words right now, just disbelief. I will never forget you or your beautiful poetry. My hope is that you are reunited with your beloved dad. Love always and forever until we meet again, Kermmy xxxx

I want to aplogise for the font - I find it hard to see the small print. I didn't mean to appear like I was shouting xxx

I want to scream at him. I want to shake him by the shoulders and say HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME?

AJ was the rock of Poet Share, the one who kept me going, kept me from shutting down this place, made me laugh when I was at my wits end and made me see the good when I could only see the bad.

He was full of love and life and laughter and no metaphor about life being unfair or fair or candles snuffing or stars that burn brightly burning out faster is going to make it any easier, any better, any less painful than the Mack Truck hitting me that it feels like right now. I've known Jamie since I started writing poetry and I don't know how to do it without him.

How many people are such pure souls that they can affect so many people in this same way without ever meeting face-to-face?

I don't care about God or stars or words right now, I want my f--- friend back.

Jamie I am so numb. I hear you and I feel your pain too. I want to see him, hold him and at the same time I think I will wake up any minute. I am with you somehow, across the water - sharing grief for a fellow poet who shone so brightly. Take care of yourself Jamie please xxxxxxx speak soon my friend. Lots of love xxxx even seeing RIP Apocalypticjay is not registering. We've been friends for so long - its just a nightmare love you Jamie

AJ had the passion required to make that difference.. They say the world is made up of all sorts of personalities, perhaps it was our age difference or life experiences.. but thankfully AJ was a different breed of person than I was yet we both shared the love of writing and the fact that writing can help us be better at living. and AJ knew how to live. He enjoyed music more than any non-musical instrument player I know (I loved it when he would switch his profile picture to a famous musician)

If I had to use two words to describe AJ it would be "Cool Cat".

but really, beyond our loss here.. my heart goes out to his young family members I would see in his pictures with him.. my heart goes out to his Mother who somehow has to find a way to return to a life without him.. and my heart goes out to AJ himself.. all the things I wish I would have said to him had I known our time was so limited..

we were the lucky ones to know him for the few years we did.. It's going to take a long while for me to understand that he is not just away doing this or that.. and when it does sink in.. I'll be glad I have the rest of you to pick me back up.

AJ is the reason I still write today. Every piece he encouraged, he taught me to write and has always been my favorite poet. I still think I'm going to check my facebook and see a message from him, saying he was busy all day, that's why he wasn't around, make a lovingly rude joke about my southern accent. AJ knew how to love and his love was endless. I feel priveledged to have had him in my life for the short time I did. I know there are many here who knew him much longer but he had a way of of making you feel like you had known each other forever. I felt like the world should have stopped and recognized the great loss it had endured but sometimes the world can't keep such a pure soul. Until we meet again my dear friend x.

Ever since I took him up on a comment he left to PM him anytime we became the closest of friends. He was my brother, my rock and he inspired so much poetry and music in me. I don't know what to think, I want to go back in time and then just tell Death he can have me instead.

RIP AJ wherever you are...

but he was my friend

There was always something about Jay's poetry, something that you couldn't quite put your finger on. It was wise, ethereal - ironically spiritual. He had such understanding that you couldn't help but be drawn to him. Like something magnetic was caught in your heart. He could make the blood in your veins boil and rush about and then he could take that same iron and settle it, warm it and comfort you with the feeling of completeness and shelter. Thank God he put so much of his soul into his poetry. Thank God his magnetism still lives in his words.

RIP Jay
The world is less beautiful because it has one less gifted poet to reflect it.
I remember Jay as instrumental to my introduction to poetry. When I began to post, he was already so prolific. I saw him as a colleague-- A fellow writer who I would read and who would graciously read me. He inspired me for greater heights.

I remember chatting with him and he was always a man who wanted everyone involved. I wish I could have read more of his poems and he, mine. In a way I guess he is a part of me as I would be of him. And though I lose a part of me, I know I have also gained it.

RIP my friend. I love you very much.

I haven't been around Poetshare for a while but I felt a need to be here today to say goodbye to AJ.

Some people have a unique way of expressing themselves and AJ was one of those people.

My heart is heavy with the weight of this news. When I read the notice I kept saying surely I am misunderstanding, surely this can not mean what I think it does.

Jay is fine, because he was a beautiful soul and now we who are left to mourn him must find our way through the numbness and hurt we are experiencing, and it does hurt.

May the bright beauty of your soul shine as brightly there as it did here my friend. I so appreciate having the chance to know you, even from afar. Much love, Jay, much love.

my heart and prayers go out to all who loved him

What happened, Jay? You were here - you were with us, with ME and then you just stepped out of the scene. Quietly, without saying a godamned thing to anyone. Who is going to encourage me to keep writing? Who am I going to turn to when it's 2am and Sean is gone and I am lonely and need a friend - someone who understands what it's like to have all of this ... this crap floating around inside of your head, bubbling up from your chest just screaming at you that it needs to be written, or drawn, or sung??

You're the reason I started posting on the Prose boards ... you're the reason I kept at it when I was fairly certain that my work just sucked. We've laughed together, we've cried together - we've shared thoughts and ideas and work. I spent two weeks going back and forth with you on that stupid, dangerous co-write we created. My husband is fuming at me because he had no idea we were friends, or that we were close - and I know that you are just sitting somewhere laughing your silly ass off about that!

Look at us, Jay. Look at how much you are loved. At how many lives you touched - how many of us you saved. Half of me is so angry with you - that you could just leave us like this. And the other half of me is so broken that I've lost one of the very few people that I could call 'friend'.

You left right in the middle of our conversation, Jay. Who is going to answer all those questions now?

Like so many others, I feel like I cannot process this. It is surreal - how is it that someone I never met has left such a hole in my life?

It hurts every time I think about it...

I will be out a poetry open mic tonight, and I'll be reading the tribute poem I wrote for him. Not sure I'll get through it without crying, but I want to share his beautiful soul with as many people as possible.

It's hard because the last thing he said to me was "talk to you soon." I keep looking through the thousands of messages we've shared on facebook and can't imagine not having those conversations each day.

I can't get angry because I still cant believe he's gone. He has been my friend for so long, though over the last three years my stupid uni work has come between our friendship. I hope he understands. Jay has picked me up so many times except when he kept me out til 6am and my hubby was a bit angry lol - then I was almost picking HIM up off the floor haha xxxx When I see his face it reminds me of just how loveable and mischievous he was. He was supposed to be coming to my hubby's festival in June :'(

I haven't mentioned anything to his mum as yet, but I said to Jamie Harris I would like to go to Jays funeral if that's allowed and take some flowers from us all? I think I need to say goodbye that way - so it sinks in? I dont want to mention funerals to is mum ........ unsure .... need advice?

I think if you bring flowers from us all it would be wonderful, Kerry.