There are some things about me that I can't change

There are things about me that are just too strange

I've got thoughts in my head I hate giving acknowledgement

I've got voices that spit on my every accomplishment

I've got secrets, and shyness; I get obsessive-compulsive

I wear verbal armor and spit words so destructive

To protect myself when I feel all my insecurities

And when I feel wrong my rituals make me feel safer so please

Don't laugh at me, don't attack me

I did things to myself that you wouldn't believe

I'm recovered now; I don't do that anymore

But I still think about settling my stupid score

On myself. With blood. I am not my enemy,

Or at least I shouldn't be

And so far I can stop myself, keep my insides inside

But I always wonder how much longer I can keep that restraint alive

I have words that I'm tossing around in places like this one

Using them for good and not hate is an important intersection

A crossroads, where I can make a choice of creativity

To avoid self-injury

And now I read back over all of these rhymes and lines

And I smile because if there is one thing I can do, it's write

So maybe I got the first words of this poem wrong

Change is possible, I can look at myself and see that I do belong

Here: I can say that I'm worth it when I see me in the mirror

And instead of hiding, wipe away the steam to see myself clearer

I can look at my flaws and say they're all right

I can look at the good things and say I'm worth the fight.