the fine line between writing and relapse

Location

i'm tired.
of ritually slicing at veins,
spilling them between the lines.
these gashes are getting clumsy;
any day now i'll spill too much,
and blood is not an appropriate substitute for
                                                                       ink.
and this is not dickinson
                                       or plath
                                                     or sexton.

 

i'm tired.
of earning my words with
                                       starvation
                                                        inanition
                                                                      chronic melancholia.
if the pen is mightier than the sword
then my pen cannot be a razor.

 

i'm tired.
of setting the thermostat to 57°
to match the number of gashes in my page
that i can still see.

 

i'm tired.
of crunching ice between my molars under the covers
when there's a blizzard burning outside.

 

                                                                                            i'm.
                                                                                            tired.

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741