skin and bones

skin and bones

A Poem by serpentine
"

I almost dropped out of college last year after relapsing to an eating disorder and a brief but horrible plague of suicidal thoughts. I wrote this poem for a school psychologist, who saved my life.

"
In a clean and well-lit place
straight from the mind
of Hemingway.
There I sat,
inside my mind
when I let my metal spring unwind.
And I kept the bomb behind my lips:
an explosive
"am I cut out for this?"
and so pristine
in the light of day,
the room gave back the darkness I sent away.

Lost in a forest 
I see for the trees
and sex
and pills
and calories
and memories of darker days
that, at one time,
I let decay.
If I take root, it will strangle me
I'll meet my end
under this canopy
that shades my skin
and pales my face
and hides the clean and well-lit place.

Am I only who I am
with Xanax®, Ritalin®, Citalopram?
I was beginning to believe that it was all true
and then...
there was you.

© 2014 serpentine


Author's Note

serpentine
this is my favorite poem that I've ever written, but it's a little different every time I write it. I'm never sure how to divide up the lines or if there should even be stanzas at all. What do you think? (also any constructive criticism is always welcome)

My Review

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Featured Review

very nice. I like the stanza option.
Each section flows and the breaks give readers a moment to think, to let each moment sink in.
It is more intimate and personal as if your speaking directly to us, taking us on your journey, for this particular topic...stanza works well.
I am happy you were able to over come your struggles. A lot of us can surely relate to this as well.
Good job:)

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

serpentine

9 Years Ago

Thank you for the input! I thought I liked this format pretty well, but then again I'm always pretty.. read more



Reviews

very nice. I like the stanza option.
Each section flows and the breaks give readers a moment to think, to let each moment sink in.
It is more intimate and personal as if your speaking directly to us, taking us on your journey, for this particular topic...stanza works well.
I am happy you were able to over come your struggles. A lot of us can surely relate to this as well.
Good job:)

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

serpentine

9 Years Ago

Thank you for the input! I thought I liked this format pretty well, but then again I'm always pretty.. read more

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259 Views
1 Review
Added on October 22, 2014
Last Updated on October 23, 2014
Tags: poem, poetry, pain, lost, blindness, eating disorder, depression, hope, emergence, relapse

Author

serpentine
serpentine

Ithaca, NY



About
I'm 20 years old and I spend most of my time writing in my journal. Sometimes, poetry comes out. I hope that you all like them. more..

Writing