Lyric discussion by lithium_barbie_doll 

Cover art for No Poetic Device lyrics by AFI

who am i to interpret this piece? but i shall give my say, and then disappear. the meaning, to me, is so clear -cut- , but i only present opinion. the illustrative language presents images of the arms of "cutters" or "self-mutilators" ((or in my eyes, "body artists")) and the depression of all the fake smiles everyone hides behind. goals seem to float away from reach - all except death. and so this is of what he dreams. and, though his physical pain is self-inflicted, his emotional pain is out of his control. and maybe he hopes to fall into a permanent slumber. or maybe it is about clowns?