I used to have a nervous habit
Biting my nails
I tried everything to stop
I was embarrassed about it
The other girls had beautiful nails
Always colorful
Always long
Mine looked like stubs
Shame kept me from biting them again
But then I started biting my lips
I replaced one bad habit with another
This time it was worse
My lips wore anxiety like a neon hat
Telling everyone
“Hey look here! She’s weird!”
Shame- and a lot of chapstick- kept that from happening again
But one habit ends and another begins
My body is still a victim of my  emotions
Now I reach for a blade
But only in places where people won’t see
Except I’m trying to stop
It’s just who knows what I’ll pick up if I do?