Ode to My Eating Disorder

February 27, 2019

You were a slow, quiet death.

You kicked my heels out from beneath me

And held my hand the whole time.

Learning tactics of self detriment by trial and error,

I am the barrier between rational and fucking stupid--

Until the skeleton ghost was all that was left.

Outstretched fingers point to imperfections

You smirk at me in the mirror and I cower back,

But you look so beautiful today.

I’m shouted and screamed at by the glamourous lies

But betrayed by my sunken-in-dark-circle-eyes

“Hush now, you’re drowning in fabric aren’t you?”

The bones are skin deep

Don’t you dare fall asleep,

The Doctor says you won’t wake up

It beeps and it beeps

But the nurses are sweet

And we both fit perfectly in that hospital gown.

Now I can walk without dragging along

But I miss you my love,

And I wish you weren’t gone.

Something wrong with this poem?

Replies are closed for this poem.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, 24/7. Crisis Text Line — text HELLO to 741741.

See what makes your poem unique — its voice, energy, themes, and the literary traditions it draws from.

Comments (0)

Comments are closed for this poem.