My friend cut his hair.
Many weeks ago.
His hair was long,
But now it's short,
Much shorter than before.

My friend cut his hair.
It's softer to the touch.
I pat his head,
A gentle tap,
He didn't like it much.

My friend cut his hair.
It used to hide his eyes.
I see them both,
Like pretty jewels,
No longer in disguise.

My friend cut his hair.
It makes him different now.
His eyes light up,
His smiles are warm,
As warm as he'll allow.

When I say,
"I need a hug"
I don't mean those simple ones.

Those easy one-arm-over-one-arm-under,
Those awkward-pats-on-the-back,
Those that say I-don't-really-mean-it,
Those that reply this-makes-me-uncomfortable.

I don't mean them.

I mean clinging to you like a man to driftwood amidst a roaring storm,
I mean burying my face in your embrace to smother my frustration,
I mean being held tight enough to stop myself from falling apart,
I mean feeling safe from the world outside the shelter of your arms,

I need a hug.

Tired eyes? Tired brain,
I'm not sick. I'm not insane.
You ask what's wrong, it's all in vain,
Since I'm not hurt. I'm not in pain.

Listen to me.

Weary smile? Weary heart,
I'm not sick. Not torn apart.
You say I lie, I say it's art,
Since I'm not used. I'm just not smart.

Listen to me!

Bitter tears? Bitter soul,
I'm not sick. Life takes its toll.
You want to help, it's not your role
Since I'm not cracked. I'm still a whole.

I said listen!

No.

Please.

Why?

I have something to say.

Go on.

You're sick. Stop denying it.
There's clearly something wrong.
It's all a lie and there's no art.
Let me help you heal.

No.

Please, let me help you heal.

No!

Before it's too late.

It already is.

Sunlight, clocks, alarms:
They call for us, "Wake up!"
Convincing us to stumble out of bed,
Unwillingly,
As the bedsheets, the blankets, the pillows,
Are all we have.

Bosses, teachers, parents:
They call for us, "Now work!"
We persevere through the day,
Unwillingly,
Another coffee, another biscuit,
Are all we have.

Paperwork, homework, chores:
They call for us, "No rest!"
Barely surviving, we continue,
Unwillingly,
The hopes of evening, night, and stars,
Are all we have.

Eventually, it is another day over:
There is no cheer, only a sigh of relief.
We stumble to our beds, wondering,
Unwillingly,
When did we become,
Like this?

Green skin, skulled face,
Candy red? Or lime green?
I do not know,
Both, maybe.

Creature hatched from a sugary treat,
Eggshell sickly sweet.
I devour it,
Nothing remains.

I am no longer a creature,
Two sides split:
Lime green, candy red,
A sarcophagus as my bed.

I house a bloodbath.
Candy red soldiers
March across and slaughter
Lime green maidens
Weep and flee and cry out

I am but a cage
Housing opposing sides of colour
Who is winning?
Can you tell?

The deed is done.

I surrender.
The Muse has been struck down, space.
A mark left in her place.

I surrender.
The Lord has won this war, time.
I am no longer mine.

Snip, snip, I'll cut the bonds
I'll cut them til my friends are gone

I don't need you or you or you
Cuz face it, you don't need me too

You never cared 'bout what I say
Or how's my evening, how's my day

I'm not worth a thing, you see
A useless **** to you and me

I can't fix mistakes I've made
What I did, the price i paid

So snip, snip, I'll cut the bonds
I've cut them now, my friends are gone