Self Harm - Poem - Warning - May Contain Triggers

THANKS, DAD: 6 March 1998



I saw my dad two days ago

For the first time in a year



He is 75 years old

Ex WWII – you know the sort

No bull – Plain speaker – RSA type



Told him I’d lost my job

Was unemployed

Marriage very shaky



Didn’t throw him

Not a problem – good old dad

Nothing a beer couldn’t fix



At the local RSA we sat

Him on beer

Me on coke



It was a warm room

Pushed up my sleeves

He saw the scars on my wrist



Spoke with utter disgust

In his voice
‘I’d have thought better of you than that, boy.’



‘Thanks, dad.’


Pat Quinn
Ashburton NZ
1998

I will add to this Thread in the coming days - I had something all sussed to follow me poem, 'n bugger it, wouldn't ya know, I forgot it when the phone rang.

I know it was about self-harm and accidental consequences years down the track but other than that, nup, tis gone, damnit.

For the meantime, 'If ya do', Please, Don't.'

You do not deserve to treat yourselves that badly, you truely don't - and those reasons we give - I've used them too and in the cold harsh light of day, they tend not to make nearly as much sense as they did they night before, or whenever.

It alarms me too, that Self-Harm can become a Copycat behaviour - sheesh, can't we find better things to copy?
Please You Lot, take real gentle care of you eh, cos we don't need to do that to ourselves, we really don't.

Paddy.

I admire you Paddy for the way you deal with your life and the way you have reached out to others by setting up this site .

Thank you Paddy for your honesty and caring about people like us. Self-harm is so hard for many to talk about because of the shame we may feel and fear of being judged by others who do not understand. It took me over twenty years to admit that I been self harming. Once I did and had the appropriate help I haven't looked back since. I was very pleased when I did some research the other day when I found a website to help those understand and overcome self harm. www.selfharm.net

Gabby