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.

Source: “A Cry for Help” by Dawn Pisturino – MasticadoresUsa // Editor: Barbara Leonhard //