Self Preservation

Pick Pick Pick Until the nail bleeds Tear away the cuticle Bite the nails down Chew on the fingers That taste of nicotine Down Down Down Goes the enamel of the teeth Pick and Scratch
Until yellow fingertips Color themselves red Taste of blood Instead Instead

Instead of

Gnaw through damaged nails Just to get to Bite off the callus Chew the scaled skin between chipped teeth Grind fidgeting fingers Down into the wrist Repeat Do this Do this Do This

Do it Again

Bloody Scabs
Instead of hands
Make it
Impossible
To pick up