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Knife's Edge

the tattoo on her eyebrow frowned

at the sight of yesteryear’s cutlass

the well-rounded blade had become

blunt dull and worn down from overuse 

and yet straight to the point of salvation


the pain cut unceremoniously deep

like a double-edged sword that

protracted the kill in anticipation

of slicing from a lacerated mind


saw teeth serenaded an ode to demise

one more incision and the blood flow

would take her across the river of tears

lacerated dreams punctured and carved into 

her epitaph a forgone pleasant conclusion

the point of no return loomed un-capriciously 

her wounds had festered in purulent beauty 

and she appealed to her inner resolve


why prolong the inevitable release

and she was calm with no tremor

as she faced the extinction of terror


her glance fell upon the scalpel

next to the toothbrush and lather

and the mirror liked what it saw

cracked glass a few shards missing

a borrowed fantasy and reflection

of a bloody life unwanted as she

pondered upon what message 

to inscribe on her tombstone


the shower curtain ready for a last splash

cheered her on ‘don’t you worry’

‘I’m easy to clean the mess will abide’

grout bleach and tiles lured a whitewash

and the toilet brush smiled in applause

cacophonous bristles caked in foul smell

took her closer to the crappy memories

which had darkened a life not worthy

of living and she let out a flatulent moan

ultimate and terminal the fizz pounced 

and she gripped the rapier with 

surgical precision and intricate joy


then Occam’s razor pleaded for parsimony

and she went back to self-laceration

prolonged suicide suited agony’s hurt

much better than a knife in her heart



17th May 2021

Knife’s Edge Poetry Contest

Sponsored by Edward Ibeh

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021




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Date: 6/19/2021 12:55:00 AM
Congratulations on your win a great write.
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Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 6/26/2021 1:26:00 AM
Thanks Terry.
Date: 6/18/2021 11:16:00 AM
Powerful and poignant gem of a poem, Kai:-) This wowed me for sure! Heartiest congratulations on your 1st place win in my contest!
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Date: 6/18/2021 7:20:00 AM
I have already commented on it. Congratulations!
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Date: 6/18/2021 7:19:00 AM
No happy endings here … well written! Congrats on your win, Kai Michael
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Date: 5/19/2021 1:59:00 AM
Beautiful!
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Date: 5/17/2021 9:53:00 AM
Incredibly fine write on a most difficult subject. Good job, Kai. Hey, I also loved the personification of the toothbrush! So much sadness in these situations.
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Date: 5/17/2021 6:53:00 AM
Great write Kai, prolonged suicide, great ending...
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Date: 5/17/2021 5:14:00 AM
So sad.. vibrating with the wounds of her heart. Profound and intriguing... pierces the mind with her pain. So dark yet honest look at what can happen to a festering soul. Excellent writing. God bless you always. Love, Gina
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