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Little Red

Lined up neatly
All in a row
I've seen X's before
Criss-crossed when they
Run out of room
But not you

Even in this
The worst of all things
You are precise

And you are beautiful
And what you do is disgusting

Pull your sleeves up
I want to see what you did
When I couldn’t be there

Could I even stop you or
This thing that seems to take over
You start and you can’t think ahead

You wanted to wear that dress
That strapless, sleeveless dress
I hope your cardigan matches
For your sake

For mine

For the love that I cling to
All the times I had to distract you

Every time you fell apart
When it was harder to swallow the pills
When you tried but
You couldn’t stop

Please stop.

I need you.

You promised.

Those sick little lines
Little red lines
You fucking perfectionist.

Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Last few words: 
guess what guys, i'm an idiot
Editing stage: 

Comments

it's about a mother's response to a daughter cutting. I'm glad you haven't glamorised it and I like the honesty- the worst of all things, disgusting, fucking perfectionist.

Anything about cutting is disturbing and tends to bring out the rescuer in people, which is probably part of the intent. I've read a lot about it, known a few cutters and my response is not rescuing, it is stop or go away, I can't be part of this. I guess parents don't have that choice.

The last few words bother me. Cutters need help and need to stop. Full stop.

Well written and evocative.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

rather a very really close friend, i guess. the problem with the rescuer in me is that she could never just leave even though she can never be enough. thanks for the read

mag

author comment

it's that it is not their job, they can't do it. Only the person who needs the help can find the appropriate help.

I hesitate to encourage you at all in this, but I know how hard it is to walk away from a friend in need. One thing that can help, sometimes, is to get the person to commit to not doing it, a day at a time, and if they feel they need to, to call you and talk about what they are feeling. You just listen and echo, you don't try to fix anything. They need to be heard.

I'm glad it's not you doing it.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

I agree with Jess, though never stop being a friend, a write from reality which is hard, Yours Ian.T

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There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

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