Self Harming

In spring 
gaze into my hazel eyes
see distant horizons
flat-lining
the congolese savannah,

touching bruised clouds 
against your creamy skin, 
hives peppered
with puce contusions 
your pummeled complexion, 

clinging to warm clay
your frantic cuticles
scratch twisted wrists
in tiger stripe slashes
as night wolves screech 
an anthem of loss.

Blackened clouds
smudge charcoaled 
crimson tinted skies 
as humid breath
exhales. 

But now
these fists clench
like knotted rope
as ink clouds etch dusk
and punch the night 
with their thundering.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Harper Avatar
July 27, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Congratulations Brian for your honorable mention placement in the contest. There were so many fine poems entered. This poem was very well formed and showed the horror of self-harm, so very sad. Bravo for sharing.
Allison Avatar
June 30, 2019 at 5:25 PM
I got chills reading your poem Brian as in the past I have worked with students who self harmed. Just recently a 20 year old committed suicide ( not from the school I worked at) it broke my heart to see his young friends coming out of the funeral:-( hugs jan xx
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