Cutting or counselling

Coping mechanisms

He saw me staring,
both of his fore arms scar latticed,
inch long, precision made,
perfectly angled scars.
I met his gaze, " what the f**k's all that ? "
He smiled.
Tom was a wee fella from Glasgow
not given to idle chit chat,
he turned up to work, did his bit,
then off, away home.
Today however was different.
He let out a sigh, looked down at the scars,
" Did this years ago, before cutting was fashionable " he paused,
looked at the scars.
" My wee boy was born not well, really ill,
hung on for 6 months or so, then the wee fella died.
They said I should go to counselling
but for me it was less painful to do this" he nodded at his arms,
"rather than talk to strangers.
Now they're all I have to remind me of him,
faded scars, though the one in here" he tapped his chest
" that one'll never fade... never "

Author's Note

Could go on but enough written I think.

Reviews

[Jessica]

I liked this poem, and I liked that you didn't judge him. You should always consider what another has gone through before you judge.

[Gee]

Thank you. Yep, ya never know the back story of folk. I always try to remember that when managing the fellas at work.

[Gerald Parker]

Stark and effective. The suffering of ordinary people.

[Gee]

Aye, thank you

[Lyn Anderson]

Brilliant. So explains the reason. Simply, starkly, and without any flowery language. Excellent in style and content. Bravo

[Gee]

Again thank you. It is always interesting and humbling to chat with folk like the fella in this writing.

[Lyn Anderson]

It is, isn't it? So many amazing people will never win a gold statue or a sports trophy or preach to us about saving the world from a luxury yacht

[DaniElle LaPointe]

Dark and moving thank sharing

[Gee]

Thank you for enduring and commenting.
Hope you are enjoying this festive period....and it ain't to cold :)

[Neville]

these words just needed to be writ.. you have described it just as it often is my friend ... such methods of 'tension release' is not uncommon among those who have suffered some form of trauma, abuse or loss... it is also on the increase.. sometimes treatment it is more about harm reduction (maybe cutting less deep, or with a clean blade) at least until some therapeutic relationship is established.... not to be mistaken or confused with attention seeking or necessarily, a cry for help... often such behaviour can go hidden for years if not for ever.... N

[Gee]

He's a good egg. Brought him best the other day, as I do for all of the labourers and forklift drivers, he gave me a Christmas card today wishing us as a family all of the best....sweet and kind.
Thank you, hope you and Mrs Nev are well

[Neville]

Good show and good on ya too mate... Yes we are both muddling through ta.. Peace, Love & All Good Things to You and ya Girls.. Neville :)

[barleygirl]

One of your more mind-blowing pieces that I've read! And many of yours are mind-blowing, but this one goes an extra few miles toward digging into a deepness of meaning -- WOW! I read lots of pieces about cutting on this website. I did not know it was so fashionable until I read about it so often here. I love the way you use sarcasm to suggest this might NOT be the best coping technique. My sister (very damaged by childhood abuse) believes there are scars all over her & she shows them to me, but I can't see them. These scars are like her monument to what we went thru as kids. So I totally understand the deeper dilemma in your storyline, about how some people cling to their coping mechanisms, no matter how strange it might seem to some of us who like to pretend we are doing it better *wink! wink!* Your writing is so powerful & courageous (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Gee]

Hi Margie, thanks for your kind words

[Kay]

There's a heavy sadness in this piece, first from Tom's tragic experience and second from the notion that cutting is now fashionable. Your story-telling in this poem is great, it presents an ongoing epidemic behind closed doors.

[Gee]

Thank you Kay

[Lola_Bee]

this is beautifully sad. well written and expressed with such eloquence. raw emotion.

[Gee]

Sorry so late replying, thank you

[Coyote Poetry]

Many ways to fix heartbreak. We will do what we must. If we listen to each other. Maybe we can understand. Thank you my friend for sharing the powerful and worthwhile poetry.
Coyote

[Gee]

Thank you Coyote

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.