Paper Cuts #poetry #2020aprpad

Prompt: write a ‘control’ poem

Paper Cuts

I have no control
how these razor-thin lines
will affect you

a nick or scrape
if you are lucky
or a deep gouge
hitting too close to the bone

I don’t want to hurt you
to make you bleed with my words
but sometimes the truth is painful
and my heart would burst
to hold it all in

so put on your blinders
if you must
or plug up your ears
if you think that will save you

but sometimes my words are paper cuts
that barely bleed
it’s the sting that gets you in the end

©2020 Lori Carlson. All rights reserved