Nails to dig into the palms,
To keep the tears at bay.
Nails to keep up the calm,
To chase the fears away.

Nails to cut away the skin,
To keep the pain inside.
Nails to conceal what's within,
To find a place to hide.

Nails to keep up the facade,
So people don't know what's wrong.
Nails that might seem rather odd,
But the courage is all gone.

Nails to hide the unease,
To wish the bad away.
Nails to keep up the peace,
To wish the good would stay.

Nails sly as a snake charmer,
Violent as a typhoon.
Nails to pierce through the armor,
Like tiny polished harpoons.

Nails to conceal anxiety,
To avoid extensive inquiry.
Nails not accepted by society,
For it makes others worry.

Nails to replace the scars,
For other places are too apparent.
Nails to make your own memoirs,
Reminders of the pain inherent.

Nails to help improve,
Working as a crutch.
Nails of which they won't approve,
For they obsess way too much.

Nails not rusty in execution,
That steal away naive youth.
Nails are a fine solution,
When the goal is to avoid the truth.

A/N: If the topic wasn't clear to you, dear readers, then you may not be personally familiar with the subject at hand. This poem is based on my coping mechanism when in stressful situations, which is digging my nails into my palms. Although I shouldn't condone self-harm to you guys, this is just an example from my own experience. Do as I say, not as I do!

With that, I'm going to leave you,
Mantha out!