I wrote this for David Nickels after I told him about my “Ode to a Pencil”.

He said I
should write a poem about the paper cuts he had on his hands “cause they really hurt”.
So I did. I came up with the first two lines there and then finished it later that night.

Paper Cut
By: Caleb Kestner

(For: David N.)

Pain thou name is paper cut

Foe thou name is page

Ruthlessly I was attacked

Provoked into this rage

Dare thee I, again to try

To rend me skin from skin

For if thou do then I shall too

To thee and all thy kin