11. 

my daughter weeps to my wife 
says that she feels trapped in a human body 

that she is supposed to be moon or a star 
that she doesn’t belong here 

i ask her later and she says the hate 
and the negativity are too much 

that she doesn’t see the point 
of all the pain and suffering 

i explain i have always felt this way 
and that many many many people do 

some try to escape it by killing themselves 
some find the fun and pleasure in this world 

so why not? i say eat your favorite foods 
listen to your favorite music 

i explain it really helped me to find a way to help 
i say to find out why you are here 

i know that my writing is what i can give back 
i say to her your art and poetry 

are natural to you maybe that is the way 
you help this world 

i feel her settle and say 
so this life is all a simulation? 

like a field trip? 
i don’t know for sure but i think so i answer 

but you are here now 
so you might as well find your joy here 

and your people, my daughter 
there are plenty of us in exile 

sharing sparks in the 
darkness 

Scott Ferry

helps our Veterans heal as an RN in the Seattle area. He attributes his writing skill to listening to rain fall upwards from the bottom of a fictional aquarium. His most recent books include his book of prose poems, Sapphires on the Graves (Glass Lyre Press, 2024), and his collaboration with California poet Daniel McGinn, Fill Me With Birds (Meat For Tea Press, 2024). In 2023, Meat for Tea Press published Ferry’s collaboration with Lillian Necakov and Lauren Scharhag, Midnight Glossolalia. Impspired Press released two of his books: each imaginary arrow (2023) and the long blade of days ahead (2022).

Links to Scott’s 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

More on the Web: By, About, and Beyond

⚡ a pear and a flashlight, poem by Scott Ferry and painting by Leilani Ferry; published in MacQueen’s Quinterly (Issue 17, January 2023)