paper cuts | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. paper cuts

paper cuts

March 3, 2023
By annalise_m GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
More by this author
annalise_m GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
10 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile

While I bend and burn and break

fire reigns

A million shattered pieces punctuate

the fragments of dreams I once dared to whisper


I don’t want to be here anymore.

I don’t want to be here.

I don’t want to be.

I don’t want to.

I don’t want.

I don’t.

I-


close my eyes

count to five


one- i breath

two- i whisper

three- i choke

four- i cry

five- i scream


so loud the windows shatter

as glass falls in, i reach out my arms

for only a piercing embrace

can muffle my pain


let my pain be exemplified

you will think that you see me

congratulations.

you’ve solved my case


you’ll write narratives of a tragic hero 

returning home 

broken from war


please...

save your red poppies for the dead

i deserve no medals for papercuts

Photo by Vera De on Unsplash

Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
Never The Same
By sHaDoWnInJa PLATINUM
West Jordan, Utah
sHaDoWnInJa PLATINUM, West Jordan, Utah
31 articles 0 photos 3 comments
View profile
Poetry
Connected
By emolover95 GOLD
Park City, Utah
emolover95 GOLD, Park City, Utah
13 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

View profile
Poetry
The Unraveling Scarf
By kiwi12 PLATINUM
Austin, Texas
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
View profile
Poetry
Overcoming Stage Fright
By kiwi12 PLATINUM
Austin, Texas
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
View profile
Poetry
Perfectly
By Christina Rudolph BRONZE
Lilburn, Georgia
Christina Rudolph BRONZE, Lilburn, Georgia
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
The Backyard
By CarlyG GOLD
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
CarlyG GOLD, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
10 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." H. Jackson Brown Jr.

View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 4 comments.

Kris-Is-Here BRONZE said...
on Mar. 27 2023 at 2:47 pm
Kris-Is-Here BRONZE, Pottsboro, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you don't get it right the first time just try try try again

View profile
this is so wonderful <3!!
PoisonIvy22 SILVER said...
on Mar. 9 2023 at 2:13 pm
PoisonIvy22 SILVER, Windom, Texas
5 articles 1 photo 26 comments

Favorite Quote:
"In the public eye, girls and women with strong perspectives are hated. If you're a girl with an opinion, people just hate you. There are still people who are afraid of successful women, and that's so lame." -Billie Eilish<br /> "My imagination is a twisted place." -Taylor Swift<br /> “ When people see good they expect good and I don't want to live up to some one's expectations." - Damon Salvatore, 'The Vampire Diaries'.

View profile
This is so beautiful!
DrunkVanilla PLATINUM said...
on Mar. 8 2023 at 1:41 pm
DrunkVanilla PLATINUM, Çatalköy, Other
24 articles 3 photos 7 comments
View profile
this is so good! i wish you didn't make it anonymous so i could check out your other work, too :')
ThePoetUnlynched SILVER said...
on Mar. 8 2023 at 10:05 am
ThePoetUnlynched SILVER, Collingswood, New Jersey
8 articles 3 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It's true, Batsy! I know everything. And kinda like the kid who peeks at his Christmas presents, I must admit, it’s sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the sturm and batarangs, you’re just a little boy in a playsuit, crying for mommy and daddy!" — Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker<br /> <br /> “Smile, because it confuses people. Smile, because it’s easier than explaining what is killing you inside.” ― The Joker<br /> <br /> “Let’s put a smile on that face!” – The Joker

View profile
may I just say, WOW. this was absolutely earth-shattering, I love it.