“A Cry for Help” by Dawn Pisturino

Photo by Arthur Brognoli on Pexels.com

This poem is dedicated to all the men and women who suffer from depression, loneliness, and despair. In the U.S., call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 to get help from a trained mental health professional. People in imminent danger of self-harm can also call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for help. 

A crimson line across her wrist.
A bracelet of blood.
A visible cry for help,
But nobody comes.
She’s all alone again
To face the ordeal of life:
The challenges, the pain,
The turmoil in her brain.
Death seems like a safe escape,
But her body wants to live!
She picks up the phone
And calls the hotline – her lifeline!
A familiar voice answers.
I’ve done it again, she says.
The voice murmurs reassurance and positive affirmations.
Okay, I will, she answers,
And hangs up the phone.
She dials 9-1-1 and repeats the details of her actions.
Soon, the ambulance pulls up to her door.
She is not alone.

Copyright © 2024 Dawn Pisturino
All Rights Reserved

Dawn Pisturino is a retired nurse in Arizona whose international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies, most recently in Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and the 2023 Arizona Literary Magazine. She is a Mystery Writers of America and Arizona Authors Association member.

Submit to MasticadoresUSA and subscribe for more great reads! 

About Us and the New Submission Guidelines