Marin Poetry Center

butterflies

By Clark Schutz

i draw butterflies on my skin where the scars would have been
countless marks litter my arm
straight lines and simple wings
did your touch come from a pen or a razor?


to create or to destroy —
which makes you feel more at peace?
do either even help at all?
if not, then
what was the point?
if so, then
why isn’t your arm covered?
ink or blood
black and red
surely it would make you feel better
then maybe you could stop
and finally let the skin on your arm breathe


i have drawn butterflies on the parts of my body i want to cut
i have two on each wrist
eight around my neck
and one permanently over my heart

Second Place: Clark Schutz
Marin School of the Arts

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