a message from To Write Love On Her Arms, we are with you

"Nobody gets to name you. You are not forgettable. You are not replaceable. You are not your pain. You are sacred and special and alive.

i'm not sure what you make of Christmas but if you celebrate this day then perhaps the message is connected. Perhaps that supernatural impossible miracle baby Jesus, perhaps He came to name us. "

saved my life

growing up
in a little town
listen to
many hearts

love

a time of doubt
causing much grief
prayed

i was cutting
i had stopped
before finishing

power
i had never seen
before this time
fate? no


this
answer
in the memory of
Jesus

ask

God exists.

i know.

i asked God if He truly cared.

i know.

others around me happened.

"we must learn to look with both of our eyes...": "But when a saga popular with pre-adolescent girls...

"we must learn to look with both of our eyes...": "But when a saga popular with pre-adolescent girls...: "But when a saga popular with pre-adolescent girls peaks romantically on a night that leaves the heroine to wake up covered with bruises in ...

avoid contact

shock, exposure

injury to person

important safety.

to reduce the risk of exposure to person:

allow contact when on guard.

remain in light

do not look away

use only a soft touch

skin may damage

missing or damaged touch

without complete instructions

liberating

appear in their proper place

clear and precise

i note a minor heresy

in favor of

existence

preference

unenviable job

ultimately,

the patience of Job.

it also requires deaf ears and hardened hearts.

see the art in me

almost breathing

"but truly i think it is like the original

not like a mere imitation"

rather, he rediscovered.

human

difference between life and death:

breath informs the living body,

an unsophisticated design that mattered

scared

suspicious of the visitor

i looked round desperately for somewhere to hide.

hopeless of course.

and then i heard a footstep

behind the door,

"i beg your pardon," he said, looking me up and down.

look up more

"do you suppose it's true what i heard?"

"maybe it's not true at all."

"she's nothing to look at."

"nothing much to her."

"made a big mistake."

"nothing wrong with her at all."

above my head was the evening star.

"it's true all right."

mediocre doesn't belong with this

should be in harmony with her own personality

perfection in a strange and startling way

some purpose in it

you and me

still inhibited by the tradition

in contrast,
the transformation seemed little short of miraculous

artistic revolutions

passionately concerned
as the arts were concerned

the beginnings of revolt of the arts

society salesman

he was busy acquiring
whom he could attract
he was to be disappointed

challenge of artists

expression
the blatancy of emotion

wedding of souls

in lesser hands
a mere description of two bodies

but with him
it can become
two human beings made visible

welded
by time and profound intimacy

the real church

communities made in the image of God
reject any conception
of culture

working in life

sensitive

both physical and spiritual

compromise

between tradition and relations

communities

made in the image of God

reject

any conception of culture

how to move

confidence will vanish
grace will persist

spirit is already inspired

acknowledge the inspiration

"you are who you pretend to be..." -vonnegut

naturalistic possibilities of sheer illusionism

it is still impossible to say

might seem more valid
than normal


but he was not
already lucidly defined


characterisation is very revealing:
posed.

interruption

international reputation to be cherished

his best prospects
had he lived


death interrupted him


fortune
heir to the revolution

welcome home, away from home

his own travel began
his stay was brief

he returned

his success was formidable


but even so
there was not really room

this may well have decided
his migration

his welcome
was almost that of a prince

virtue

qualities can seem invented

elegance is
the persistence of this

he was beyond doubt
a master
in reputation

a prayer

a monster i just can't outrun

forgive me




You create beauty
from a heart

help my mind
most of all.

had to talk sometime

i sat alone with dread.

i listened a little longer.
after all these years, it was time.

realized i didn't know.
"help me understand."

"i've been f***d" she said.



"how?"

the journal, the journey

waiting...
story

i was disappointed
lonely
i was disappointed
pissed off
who's there?

terribly lonely

constant pain
problem
i once ignored people in pain

everything is very painful alone

answers
anxiety
silence
the answer is no better

issues
abuse
tough
follow the evidence

struggling
suffer
struggling
stressors
suffer
for anyone who is concerned

the storm descended
extra weight
break
tender leaf killed

cutting
watch the impact
cut more

emphasis on the impact
possibility
purusing
cost of pursuing
possibility

i could see through the facade
disappointment surrounded by promises

can i judge them?
i don't know.

holding out alone
commmunication never happens at random

talks started efforts to turn around

a lot have gone through a similar thing

finally had a winning mistake
it takes time
don't discourage

radical solution to long developing problems
drastic change

friendships have a result
people

trust has been a battle.
live.

attempt to win battles.
denied
battle back
victory

fighting not as easy
possible to live

trying to heal the pain
the shared universe of sorrow

confronting the pain
hope
hope is real
can i have one more hug?

protected
innocent and unnoticed

genuine heartbreak
personal

breaking point
identity
you are under the surface

redeem innocence

live
be bold
love

focused on recovery
part of something more

saved her
hope
not alone
recovery

original
beautiful
be surprised

we decided together to show people the beginning.

30 here we are now...

why do we value talent?

money crisis
arts education
nearing extinction

audiences looking for entertainment
that's not why the arts are important
the arts teach us all.

29 training

glass case full of trophies
one spot remains
that void will be filled
won by the slimmest of margins

28 the written word

influenced me
of passions and aspirations
words have had impressions
poets won't ever know
how words and images taught

taught to think
beyond me

a writer's legacy:
died penniless
depression
emotional distress

their work would leave lasting impressions
he killed death for decades
he felt like
he was no longer needed

i am not a novelist
i am not a political journalist
i am not a poet
i am just a writer.

27 come together

brings in more
accepting more
it brings in people
encourage community

26 anybody out there?

struggling
suffer
help
struggling
mostly it's about control
stressors
bombard of society's ideas
suffer
for anyone who is concerned

25 no room for imagination

set of numbers

burned out

corporation's standardized test scores
stricter guidelines to achieve ratings

assuming we had trust

it has been a battle

punished

rewarded

live by the legislation
high expectations
strict accountability

24 simple suggestion

the government needs
to rethink its priorities

23 in charge

the ways that we decided together
to show
to promote the team
represented by lines of people
cut down at the beginning

22 compromise

i could see through the facade
forced lies
disappointment
surrounded by lies
it's about a lie
to keep it fair

21 intervention

finished contract
the right person for the job
negotiations
talks started
pleased with efforts
to turn around

20 untouchable

we feel protected by those that threaten

innocent and unnoticed identity

invited to attend the power of an artist at work
ongoing project

gritty aspects of borders that no longer exist
not normally noticed

the edges of places that have meaning
unwavering continuity

free and open
places where it is hard to tell decay

live
is about imaginary

19 capitalism

taking power
delivering power
use the power of consumption
striving
to make that number higher

18 beginning a rebellion

deception

radical solution to long developing problems
drastic change

government terrorists responsible
wealth

abuse
longing for change
there was corruption

fight against
not as easy
that would change

possible to live
chances of success

propaganda and lies

17 the power of an ignorant society.

a review of laws
emphasis on the impact
gain
laws are appropriate

should be changed
proposal concerns
possibility

pursuing the cost of pursuing
look into the possibility
society reduced education

control

16 it may take an identity crisis to finally be yourself

we tend to judge people
always forming impressions
we fit in or we rebel

the attention was gratifying
felt really good
leaving an imprint

consume your identity
appearance
forget what's at the core
people are too distracted
i surrendered

breaking point
nameless
had to die
face in the crowd

my look is genuine self-expression
you are under the surface

15 needed help

the storm descended
extra weight
cause some of them to break
tender leaf killed

14 responsibility to think for yourself.

we're cutting
cutting, gutting our innovation and education

like lightening an overloaded airplane
watch the impact

cut more

like to have seen responsible wake
even though no students did view
all the noise of our public

focused on recovery


we are a part of something
more than political control

13 in rememberance

born searching
everything is painful

not alone

never asked questions before
how many return
all were battling

identify courage
Jesus had taken torture
unbearable. unspeakable
comfortable with doubts and questions
daily life of social justice, sick and dying poor

i never left it.

a note on blogs 12 and 12.5

both of these poems were taken from an article in rolling stone magazine. the article featured to write love on her arms. it is a non-profit movement that works to provide a path to help and recovery for people who struggle with depression, addiction, eating disorders, self-injury and suicide.

it began as an attempt to help a friend who was in trouble and needed people who would simply love her. t-shirts were made with "to write love on her arms" and sold to raise money to help her pay for rehab. they soon found out that these issues resonated with thousands of people and it grew into a movement.

if you want to find out a little more (as i'm sure i've hardly managed to explain this well enough) go to their website. this is the story that began it all. and this is their statement. though i recommend check it all out.

12.5 never give up

he listens
empathy
feel the love
honesty
feel truly valued

whispers
kill yourself?
he saved her life

community of hope
her story being alive
you are not alone
a self-taught savior prayed a lot
easy to be around
to talk to

friend killed himself
deal with the news
hadn't seen it coming
coincidences add up
callings
quietly wrestling
stuff happened

revealed himself flawed, struggling
isn't afraid to be seen
written all over him
live like that
to be bold
vulnerabilities freshly unchained
fueled by the power of faith

ceaseless empathy is exhausting
there are failures

she was alone
wanted to die
needed help
security
straightened out again
again

real recovery
relapses, pitfalls
changing

to pursue
to write
help
to create
live
to go
love with patience and plan


i was really hurting
i was living lonely
confesses
realized his own pain
is greater than he thought
love
smile
a small failure

life must be awesome
i want life

12 to write love on her arms

the story really inspired
the world can be a better place
grace and an old friend
rehab
hoping

struggling
with depression and addictions
and self-injury and suicidal urges

we exist
we exist
create hope?
honest conversation
hope
desperate need
connection
love helped me so much
speaking, reaching out
trying to heal the pain by getting as close to it as possible

key to reaching is authenticity
cult of hope
talking of love and forgiveness
shared universe of sorrow

love hears some shit
abuse, neglect, raped, drug addicted
children hanging in closets
wish they were dead
self-injury and depression, always suffered
cutting herself
confronting this pain alone
jaded mental health veterans
weakening suicide prevention

conversation
more
help
thanks
hug burst into sobs
it made me cry
eye contact

hope is real


can i have one more hug?

11 return to new life

make me sound crazy
surprising considering life right now
felt like a lot have gone through a similar thing

i bought a few years
life connected
worked
everything fell into place
creating
a song happens

doesn't mean her world
is incredibly fucked up
go back
as if nothing ever happened
loves from different personality

10 free to need to be important

i do everything for her life
kind conscientious duty
appreciate me for it!

stopped evidence was right up there
i was disappointed
role model

nope
lonely
i was disappointed
i'd made the right choice

pissed off
the other half of me screamed
found myself defending
the issue kept nagging

the source
who's there
i had to wonder
feel bad
what's important
conflicted value
terribly lonely

pretended to choose getting over it

independent

9 tournament

attempt to win
battle to keep their lead
with that denied
battle back

i like shooting
to win
it was great
we did good

victory ended home
made those guys
worst case scenario
final play

8 someone told me art is communication of the soul

i'm not a fan for exploit tragedy
that's moronic
genuine music carries true honest heartbreak
personal

should give a bit of warning
the attitude, Murder
will maybe still like the life
of a good song
original
beautiful
you haven't listened to music

be surprised

7 outside yourself

not everyone likes everything
severely limit experiences of culture

criticize
untrustworthy
pretentious argument
highlight sins
better to burn


friendships have a result
different
surprise
peace
successes
failures


people convinced today about the best
once they have exhausted all

can i judge them?
i don't know

worst response possible
good money
lying, generalized answer

don't want to talk to you
didn't think so
i can't get enough
opinions of people outside your "likes"

unfair.

6 tale of a cult

destiny
go
crave unconditional love
go
redeem

think again

untold challenges
watch change
innocence manipulated
scandal-scarred

epic history

5.5 needs vs wants

favorite pill
cure-alls
actually need answers, blame, responsibility
medications preoccupied with anxiety

blacklash.


silence.



the answer is no better.

5 pandora's perspective

complicated matters of life and death
courageous patients
inherently dramatic

optimism and hope

constant pain
problem
understand aches and pains
we deal with quality of life

i once ignored people is pain

over a period of time it's going to wear
help prevent guilt
deal with damned killing

all i can hope...

4 courage

holding out alone

communication
never happens at random

unfamiliar strategy
patterns and polls
more diverse than ever

begin.

2 politicians need better publicity stunts

this means that a ceremony
is symbolic
never political

i am wrong
i hope

ideological historic extreme
strayed from his reputation

we should allow this once again

no parallel
a vision is unnecessary

powers assumes the role of chief

useful lesson
ceremonial lies respected

differ on philosophy

this day would come

1.5 titanic and easy street

farewell
like the only one overlooks
don't talk about injured passengers
sink the whole thing
overblown
bailout
less quality. more powerful.

1...artist's story

story
had been secretly for the artist
the story
hadn't known existence
really about "love"

called
answered
refusal

waiting for your call
pictures to speak without anything getting in the way

sold to a collector