that is
an off-the-wall idea
he laughs
and leaves
the room
unaware
that his comment
encourages her
to continue

green leaves
bring hope and joy
signs of renewal
and pleasures to come

what a mess
she said

I like it
he smiled

Don't listen to that voice
The one within your mind
That tells you everything is going to be okay

Because it's not

You know it's not

You struggle every day and every night
Always tired of this fight
It draws you in and lures you too far
Then you're trapped and there's no going back
So why bother?

Why bother?
Why care?
It's not like anyone is there
To hear you cry out for help
Or to see you reach out desperately

So you sit there and you cry

Until the one you truly love comes along
To pull you back from the depths of the hell within your head

a word that comes to mind

when i look at the marks

scattered below my wrist.

healed.

full stop.

there will be no more harm here.

i wish we wouldn't be so at war

these thoughts want you dead.

fight them.

dear body,

what is this mismatched mosaic
that you are in the mirror -
this fumbling jumble of flaws,
this frightening medley of faults -
this glitch,
this error,
this defect -

and what is this misplaced magic
that you are to all eyes but mine -
this unrecognized spectator road,
this coveted gift of commonplace -
this ordinary,
this regular,
this neutral -

what are you
when pictured with impartial perspective -
what are you
when glimpsed with glossed-over grace -
what are you
when there is nothing being done to you
besides being noticed?