The blood that’s spilling
And brewing under my skin
Isn’t just from the knowing
The truth in the pretense
Of etching one more burden,
Or one more mistake I’ve made
Along my pale wrists
It’s the knowing that I can’t
Prevent you from doing
What you feel you’re so good at

Blades and safety pins
Were never my forte
Although a few lines or cuts
Here, and there
Seemed to save the day
I got better at it
As the tides of time and scars
Wore on
Like the sleeves I wore
Without buttons
To hold them together

Nothing was ever
T o g e t h e r
It's always been
The bent and broken,
Bruised or beaten,
The less fortunate,
Or the “never healed”

Still, if you feel the need
It’s unwarranted
Even when it is needed
Or encouraged
I want you to remember
I could never love you less

You’re still beautiful
When you're crying,
When your mind is screaming,
When your heart is running,
And your wrists’ are bleeding
A wonderful red