My Story Of Redemption And Ink Poem by Chris Haifley

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It starts with a line and ends with relief
From these hips I realize there is nothing to reap
The blood once used to numb has finally turned black
Curling on white paper, these emotions don’t lack

From the first attempt with scissors to the last ribcage beating
I never knew the turpitudes kept proceeding
For blows purge the spirit of evil and sin
And nothing feels better when one un-curls the skin

A hiatus maybe, I’ll let things come as they may
Perhaps the whole situation will slowly replay
But now I have art to keep the pain away
And the one who started it is now being kept at bay

So with one final slice, my skin slowly unzips
As I murmur the promise through my trembling lips
And the warm stream of Pain runs onto the floor
This will be the last time I rid myself of the feeling I abhor

Two months free, and a week of relapse
A day in the hospital and many hours of naps
One step forward and two steps back
A transfusion of Life to replace the amount I lack

This time I’m done, my body is too weak
My bones and heart ache like I’ve jumped off a peak
On my own this time, I throw away the temptations
No cold comfort of metal, there will be no vacations

With support by my side, there is nothing to fear
I’ve revealed my true self to the ones I hold dear
So without further ado, I present to the world,
A new, improved, and exultant girl
With scars nothing but a reminder of the good times ahead
She put the old girl to rest and declares her dead.

Art is only way to cure the pain
So dot after line, I slowly became
A happier person, whose blood was rarely seen,
A person who goes by the name of Christine