with my doctor to discuss 
if the pills 

are keeping the intrusive voices 
of doom away 

i answer mostly but i still 
awake some days at 3 AM 

my limbic system sounding 
a false alarm for phantom fires 

(phantom fires phantom smoke 
phantom burning) 

but i can control it 
pretty well when i tell myself 

i am not in any danger 
and allow my body to relax 

she asks if i want to take this 
medication long term 

i say yes 
(i never dreamed i would say yes) 

she sets it up 
sends it in to the pharmacy 

i imagine each day feeding the demons 
a quart of turquoise lethe 

i throw it into their cages from 
up here 

my shirt as clean as 
forgetfulness 

Scott Ferry

helps our Veterans heal as an RN in the Seattle area. His latest book is a collaboration with Lillian Necakov and Lauren Scharhag titled Midnight Glossolalia (Meat For Tea Press). He also has a collaboration with Daniel McGinn, Fill Me With Birds, which is looking for a home. Scott’s book of poetry The Long Blade of Days Ahead is due out in August from Impspired.

Links to his other books, including his first collection, The only thing that makes sense is to grow (Moon Tide Press, 2019), are available at his website:

Ferrypoetry.com