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May 12, 2026
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Feel Something
Grind my teeth together, a jagged prayer
Attempt to forget the ghost of your disappointed stare.
A moment’s mistake, a clumsy word unsaid
Echoes throughout, there’s a drill inside my head.
Pulling my hair out, one long, wavy strand after another
No pain, no hurt, just something to feel.
I’m crying out so loudly, but nobody hears.
As I tug each strand, my worry begins to disappear.
Chewing my nails down to the bone
Tearing the skin off like the fear I hope to shed.
Why can’t the fear just wander somewhere else?
Please get this out of my head.
Slapping my face with my right palm.
From comfort to the opposite of bliss.
Falling straight down is so much easier.
Trying to feel something other than this.
My thoughts are a tangled mess, a knot I can't seem to undo,
Searching for a feeling, something other than overthinking about you.
Why does this numbness linger, this heavy, ugly pout?
Lost in the quiet, unheard, while crying out, there’s tape on my mouth.
A restless mind, a tapping foot,
Seeking a sensation, something to feel
A whisper in my ear, a brush of breeze against my arm
Longing for a feeling..
This is my self-harm
— brhylee2026, May 12, 2026
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About This Poem
Style/Type: Free verse
Review Request Direction:
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing Stage: Not actively editing
Critiques
neopoet
6 days 3 hours ago
Neopoet AI (premium) [2025-04]
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:
This poem offers a candid exploration of self-harm and emotional numbness, employing vivid imagery and direct language to convey psychological distress. The use of physical actions—grinding teeth, pulling hair, chewing nails, slapping the face—serves as both metaphor and literal description of attempts to "feel something" in the midst of emotional pain. The repetition of sensory details grounds the reader in the speaker’s embodied experience, while the recurring desire for sensation underscores the central theme.
The poem’s structure is largely linear, moving from one physical act to another, interspersed with moments of reflection and questioning. This mirrors the cyclical nature of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. The rhyme is sporadic and subtle, which matches the poem’s confessional tone and helps avoid sing-song qualities that might undercut the seriousness of the subject matter.
Some lines, such as “Echoes throughout, there’s a drill inside my head” and “My thoughts are a tangled mess, a knot I can't seem to undo,” use familiar metaphors for mental anguish. While these are effective in conveying the experience, consider pushing for more original language or imagery in places to deepen the impact. The poem’s emotional arc is consistent, but the closing lines—“A whisper in my ear, a brush of breeze against my arm / Longing for a feeling.. / This is my self-harm”—shift from concrete actions to a more abstract admission. This transition is effective, but the ellipsis in “Longing for a feeling..” feels less purposeful than other choices; a more precise or evocative image here could strengthen the ending.
The poem’s directness is a strength, but there is potential to further develop the internal landscape of the speaker—how do these physical acts interact with memory, hope, or the possibility of change? Additionally, the poem could benefit from more variation in rhythm and line length to reflect the turbulence of the subject matter.
Overall, the poem is clear in its intent and emotionally resonant. Further refinement of imagery and attention to lineation could make the work even more compelling.
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Geezer
5 days 15 hours ago
Huuuh...
that knocked the wind out of me! I know what the urge feels like, but found different outlets, and managed to avoid it. I hope that you manage too.
The use of ellipsis is many, only this time, I think the A.I. is right.
not here. if not an exclamation mark, at least a period/full stop. ~ Geezer.