Paper Cuts

You see
my step-mother
once said...

 

"The way you go about your life is pointless"

 

"You bury yourself so deep into those notebooks

the world passes you by"

 

"And theose artist fingers

cause you cramps"

 

At a young age
I had to learn
to dodge stones
grow angry scales
along freckled skin
and open my eyes to a world
not quite ready to hear
this poets voice

 

Speaking in tongues
to those paid to listen
of fairytale wars
battle scars
and the many
linoleum squares
I counted
day in
and
day
out

 

Bruses
tiled
like
dragon
scales

 

I became mute

 

Escaping through
rabbit holes and back alleys
into a world of ink
and worthy paper cuts

 

I wear these
paper cuts
like a f*****g
fashion statement!

 

And this goes out to you

 

The Eden snakes
you dead-eyed demons

 

It is you
that keeps me
up at night
weighing down
these artistic fingers
 
IT IS YOU
I WILL SLAM AT
ON OPEN MIC NIGHT!

 

Because I

I do have a life
worth writing about

 

Because

 

I will never be pretty enough
articulate enough or
fake enough
to fit societies
standards

 

But you see 

I dont give a s**t
cause I ware
this poet
skin well

 

Because

 

It is artistic creation
that sustains my existence

 

Cause most never bothered
to look for the smoke
from the heat
of my words

 

Because

 

I need to get
some s**t
off my
chest

 

Because

 

There are some things
that need to be heard

 

Because

 

My journal entries
may someday save a life

 

Because

 

There is more to history

 

Because

 

If I don't pound
my computer keys
late at night
I’ll be pounding
in someone’s face
 
Because

 

If I don't pour out my anger
I’ll be in a cell writing about why I’m there

 

Because....

 

Every syllable
Every stanza
and verb
is essential
to my
survival

 

You see
my step-mother
once said

 

"The way you go about your life is pointless"

 

"You bury yourself so deep into those notebooks
the world passes you by"

 

"As those artist fingers
cause you cramps"

 

By Samantha Campbell

Author's Note

this is a re post of a work from last year ... just now after an edit for some reason the format is all jumbled up so Im posting it as new, but Im leaving it on here in my unplublished work

CPDBP-GENYT-VSYA4

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I understand this poem. At eight years old. I was deep into the great literature of my day. The Jack London, Hemingway and Nevil Shute held my attention. I was told to have some real fun. I kept reading about places i wanted to see.
"I wear these
paper cuts
like a f*****g
fashion statement!'
Thank you for sharing the excellent poem.
Coyote

[Morgan]

This is very beautiful and sad .. but I really like it , it reminds me of myself because im so angry all the time , I just need a way to let it all out and writing/drawing is how I do that .. But very good work (:

[SabrinaThePoet]

This poem is dope as f**k! My favorite lines are

" I wear these
paper cuts
like a f*****g
fashion statement!"

" I will never be pretty enough
articulate enough or
fake enough
to fit societies
standards"

" If I don't pound
my computer keys
late at night
I’ll be pounding
in someone’s face"

" Every syllable
Every stanza
and verb
is essential
to my
survival"

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Fantastic! I really like the repetition of the beginning lines at the end and the wonderful full circle of it. You have survived and thrived in spite of the "Eden snakes" and so many other superbly stated stones thrown at you. This is a work that so many can relate to, and I want to shout out when I read it. You know and knew what you needed and how to survive. Writing is powerful.

[eglantine]

I def wish I could hear you slam this. Love the over-usage of "because" I'd take out "innocent" before the "freckled skin" freckles themselves hint at innocence.

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Good suggestion I think I will do that ... I read it without that word and I liked it better Thanks

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

this is an awesome poem- it should be a source of inspiration for many of us writers residing in this cafe...and i completely agree with you in the fact that our screwed up moments in life do provide our pens and muses with sources of beauty and esteem

[V.J.C.]

Really enjoyed this poem, such deep meaning. For lots of us, we don't "fit in" to others expectations. Nor do we think so similarly to the "average" people. I like to think that we see beyond the norm and look at more then just the less meaningful.

Being able to barely read and write in till middle school, I had never felt normal. A fly on the wall, a very huge and noticeable fly.
When I did start I knew that I had found something precious. In this poem the emotions for this subject is so well written. This is a really well done poem with great meaning.