Once
when I was prone
to depression
cripplingly shy
I took a blunt knife
and drew it across
my outstretched wrist
I never pressed hard
I was toying with suicide
like we all do
but Mother barged in
at that critical moment
and crazily screamed
so I dropped the blade
and it clattered
upon the parquet floor
Mother reached down
to retrieve the weapon
trembling all over
struck dumb
a pillar of salt
then she edged backwards
out of my room
no word was ever spoken.