Ode to a Hangnail

You are misunderstood.
Your life is
bitter
because of
what everyone does
to bring you into
existence.
For all this nail-biting
you appear
and cause us pain
sharp pinpricks
of hurt.
But worse
than the hurt
of accidentally touching
your hangnail
is the shame
of knowing your
self-control
isn’t strong enough
to restrain you
from biting
and ripping
and destroying
your nails.
Hangnail,
your life
is an embodiment,
a symbol for all to see,
of this shame.
You come as a
punishment
for all anxious people
who have nothing else to do
as they sit and fret
about their grades
but to tear at their nails
and bring you,
oh hangnail,
to life.

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