The Replacement

by Jenna Bella Oldridge   Apr 15, 2012


Replace the blade with ice
Feel its coldness sting my arm
Numbing my tender skin in an
Effort to find calm

Replace the blood with red marker
Colour in my pale naked thighs
Imagine a bloody fountain anything to
Fool my eyes

Replace pain with elastic bands
Flick them hard against my wrist
Absorb all of the pain until
I Feel like I exist

Replace self-harm with something
I have to see this through
It may not feel the same but
I'll have to make do

Anything to kick the habit
Rid myself of this deep shame
To kill the tormented urge
And say that I overcame

Overcame the cutting and
The ripping of my skin
I want to look at my scars and
Say "this time I win"

1


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Latest Comments

  • 11 years ago

    by average thoughts

    Sad, creative..fresh..and flow ws gud..

  • 12 years ago

    by LoVerSLaND

    Awesome nd beautiful poem. Spoke 2 me in my shameful addictions. 5/5

  • 12 years ago

    by Tara Kay

    Jen,
    I can relate to this, for my past is self-harm and I can say I win...although times are hard.

    You can do it, and I've tried these strategies of ridding myself of cutting, so this poem spoke to me in a way that really made me understand your pain.

    I love the flow, it was smooth and the wording was simple but the emotion here was evident and this is one of those poems that makes you feel for the writer and I feel for you because I know how it feels, I've been through similar stuff.

    Take care girl, and chin up :)
    Love always
    Tara
    xxx

  • 12 years ago

    by L

    I like the whole poem from beginning to end, there was just one little sentence that threw me off.

    "It may not feel the same but
    I'll have to make do"

    This one sounded strange, I'll have to make do...

    Aside from that one, I found this poem sad and somehow cheerful. Yes, it's a good start to want to leave the cutting behind and say I win. And you know, if people want something and if they put effort then they will achieve it. The thing is to not give up and keep going. It's easy to say and hard to do but that's what makes it totally worth. and much much rewarding.

    Great write.

  • 12 years ago

    by Lioness

    Oh Jen,

    I simply love this poem it is quite sad indeed. There's always a touch of darkness in any poem I find that has self harming involved. This poem has so much emotions. I love the way you have written this. I was enticed from the start to end though of course saddened by the whole thing. I love that you are trying to replace the bad things involved in cutting and changing it to something more positive to take your mind off everything. I love the ending, there was a certain positive feel to it. To say yes you've won this time, that it hasn't swallowed you completely.

    Awesome, Awesome write.

    x