Razor’s Edge On Alabaster

Sad to see you experiencing these trials, but you have written about them very well.

They are old struggles; long gone now.  This was an old piece I found in a journal I was writing in tonight, so I wanted to add it to my collection.  Thank you 💜.

I'm glad to hear it was an old write and an old struggle.

This kind of self harm always makes me sad. I realize it’s an old write. But then I’ve been poisoning myself for decades with liquor...so who’s to say? Poignant ink, Luna. I like the short, staccato phrases. “My pain” “my tomb”. They stop the reader in his/her tracks.

I always hesitate for a bit before sharing this bit of myself, but it was my truth and my secret coping mechanism for over a decade, and it is far more common than most people would ever allow themselves to imagine.  It knows no boundaries, no color, no social status.  It’s a strange human technique for dealing with the stress of being overly sensitive In a world that demands you hide it.  Thank you for your honest assessment; as always, it’s so very much appreciated 💜.

I'm in complete agreement with HF,  minus the booze....

Thank you 💜

Dear L,

Sometimes pain is the only way to feel. Each scar a memory. Totally get this.

Your courage to share this history allows so many of the rest of to summon up our own and realize self worth.

Lovely, if not “painful” write.
H🌷

It’s seems so counter-intuitive to purposely invite pain as a way to hide from pain, but I think it’s about willingly making the trade between one pain that is overwhelming for another that simply requires our focus and attention.  It’s a subject I often shy away from because I don’t want to be received as glorifying or somehow glossing over the dangers of self-harm, and because too many confuse self harm with suicidal tendencies (they are not close to the same thing), but the truth is that some find such relief in it that it becomes an addiction of sorts, and it took me a long time and a lot of hard inner work to find and implement better coping strategies.  And the pull of it is a lifelong companion once we’ve crossed that threshold.  

I’m not ashamed of my self-harm history; it was a dysfunctional coping mechanism, but it kept me alive long enough to find better and more effective/functional ways to cope.  I know there are many, many others who could have written these words, but are shamed from speaking out about it.  This is for them.  

I’m so thankful for your words; I appreciate you Honoria 💜

Dear L,

I just re-read my response and apologize for the missing words and sentence fragments! Ugh.

My rush to embrace your courage ((and you)) in support of you putting it out there, ended up with a bunch of words that didn’t really gel. Sorry.


As a recovering anorexic, some misunderstanding thoughtless souls think it’s the thing to suffer because then you can wear a size zero. Never mind one is minutes from death and major organ failure is about to put your lights out- permanently. Never mind the psychological issues behind it.

I can’t touch the eloquence of your piece and your response. But anyone truly plugged in will see, and hear the meaning behind this work. Kudos to you picking up this mantle and giving it a much needed voice!
H🌷

The immediate impression I had was the strong visual you get from the details of color, bringing across the message with intensity. Economy in this visceral write is admirable.

"cracking open  
my tomb  
a cool breeze  
on panicked skin"

Splendid visuals and metaphoric realized stain
Bravo poetess...Welcome to DUP
Jeff

I am a man of logic and reason yet I also exercise the demons in this way - this is so beautifully written and carries so much power in so few words :-))))))))))))))))

“compartmentalize
my pain
cracking open
my tomb”

Often time the hardest thing to do is eliminate obstacles of our own making. Hope writing this introspective piece helped

It certainly does help to exorcise old demons by spilling them onto paper 💜, thank you.