L.O.V.E. Notes: Self-Harm

If you say 

hurtful things

about yourself

be careful

once you believe

in what's been said

everyone else

will have no choice 

but to take you

at your word

<3

© 2021

L.O.V.E. Notes: Self-Care

If you woke up 

hoping to make 

someone smile

look in the mirror

there's a smile

waiting for you

<3

© 2021

Honest Pride

For a short while

I lived among you

things happened

pride refused help

not that many offered

to help anyway 

you tell yourself

it's only temporary

and for me it was

but temporary

felt like an eternity

whether is was a car

an abandoned house

or the streets

I've been there

and the same pride

that refused help

became an ally

a very dangerous ally

one that recognized

how strong 

I needed to be

but circumstances 

differ for everyone

it's not only addiction

and mental health

other reasons exist

not everyone survives 

certainly not

without help

pride will tell you that

if it's truly an ally

© 2021

Bury Them II

Ever since I told myself 

to bury those thoughts

more thoughts have surfaced

I knew it wouldn't be easy

but you knew that too

sometimes it's easy to forget

that I'm not the only one

going through this 

I can only imagine 

the damage your thoughts

have caused you 

over the years

your mind is a cemetery

just like mine

maybe you haven't been able 

to put those thoughts down

in the ground either

and cover them with dirt

maybe you're just there 

laying motionless 

paralyzed from all the hurt

but remember this 

if you've been down before

then you know a thing or two

about getting back up

not all nightmares are the same

but I doubt either of us 

wish to keep reliving them 

so any thoughts you may have

bury them too

and rise from that grave

you dug for yourself

© 2021