Papercuts

Summary

Lori Carlson's poem "Papercuts" explores the delicate and sometimes painful nature of truth in relationships through the metaphor of papercuts.

Abstract

The poem "Papercuts" by Lori Carlson, a writer known for her work on spirituality, life lessons, and relationships, is a free verse piece that uses the metaphor of papercuts to convey the unintended emotional impact of one's words on others. Carlson acknowledges the potential for her words to cause harm, likening them to papercuts that can either be superficial or deep and painful. Despite the desire to avoid causing pain, she emphasizes the necessity of speaking the truth, as holding it in would be even more harmful. The poem suggests that readers may try to protect themselves from the sting of her words by ignoring or dismissing them, but the subtle yet profound effect of her writing is inevitable. The poem concludes with an invitation to support the author by becoming a Medium member, with a portion of the fee supporting Carlson if joined through her referral link.

Opinions

The author recognizes the potential for her words to cause emotional pain, akin to physical papercuts.
There is a reluctance to inflict pain through her writing, yet she feels compelled to speak the truth.
The truth is presented as something that can be painful but necessary to express.
Readers are suggested to use protective mechanisms, such as ignoring or dismissing the words, to avoid being hurt.
The poem implies that the true impact of the author's words lies in their ability to provoke thought and emotion, despite attempts to avoid being affected.
The author encourages readers who appreciate her work to support her financially through a Medium membership, indicating the value she places on her creative output.

Free Verse poem

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 papercuts that barely bleed it’s the sting that gets you in the end

If you enjoy this poem, consider becoming a Member. Members get access to all the stories published in Medium. A small portion of your membership fee goes to support Ravyne Hawke if you sign up using her referral link.

Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, personal essays, creative non-fiction, and articles. She focuses on Spirituality, Life Lessons, Self-Awareness, Relationships, Mental Health, and LGBTQ+. She is the Owner/Editor of Promptly Written and Not For Bedtime Stories. You can find her older stories on her Medium Blog, Ravyne’s Nest.

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Papercuts

Free Verse poem