Letter to a Parent Poetry Activity

PONGO TEEN WRITING ACTIVITY

Name:

Date:

THE GIRL WITH THE SCARS

Activity Instructions: This activity is a chance to write about the many feelings, and the many aspects of oneself, that are associated with cutting (or other types of self-harm). Read the poem below, and then complete the writing exercise on the next page.

THE GIRL WITH THE SCARS

by Evie

I’m the happy one who writes dark poems.

I’m the hyper, crazy one who breaks down at night.

I’m the one who tries to be selfless, but is more selfish than anyone else.

I’m the one against bullying, but beats up herself.

I’m the girl that everyone looks at, but never sees.

I’m the softball player that nobody wants.

the girl who “has such a pretty face” but not the body.

I will continue to be, and I am, the girl with the scars on her wrist

and the hole in her stomach.

but maybe she is happy for once. maybe she has finally come to discover

that she is her weakest link… so if she is weak, so are her thoughts…

maybe if she is strong, her thoughts will be, too.

that light is finally being shown. despite her pain and suffering.

she is okay.

THE GIRL WITH THE SCARS, continued.

Fill in the blanks in the poem below. Use the words suggested or choose your own words to communicate your thoughts as clearly and powerfully as you can. Feel free to add lines of your own, to remove lines, or to change words to fit your purpose.

THE GIRL WITH THE SCARS

I am the happy one, who likes to ___________________________________________

I am the hyper, crazy one, who might _______________________________________

I am the defiant one, who would never ______________________________________

I am the one with the scars and their secrets.

I am the messed up one, who thinks ________________________________________

I am the helpless one, who can’t change _____________________________________

I am the hurt one, but much more hurt on the inside.

I am the one with the scars, and their angry message is _________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

I am the strong one, who is determined to ___________________________________

I am the dreamer, who imagines a different life, imagines a time when ____________

_____________________________________________________________________

I am the childlike one, who remembers _____________________________________

I am the one with the scars, but they are not me,

And one day their meaning will be _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________