through the radial 
or the femoral near the hollow 
of the genitals 

the doctors thread a light into 
the copper rust of blood 
red as breathing blesses 

and cyan as the flushing 
tide vacuums back to center 
a toe nicked on a stove corner 

now thirsts and blackens 
like a divorce 
and the physician trained 

to navigate through the groin 
and the lost rush of sex 
around the ileum and down 

the tibia to the unspoken 
ghosts in the hallways 
the tongue not able to forgive 

the heart unable to push 
old betrayal through 
but the light and the scope 

worm through the silence 
and attempt to connect 
the starving body 

with its own 
flood

Scott Ferry

helps our veterans heal, as an RN. His writing appears in American Journal of Poetry, Cultural Weekly, KYSO Flash, MacQueen’s Quinterly, Misfit, Noble/Gas Qtrly, Slippery Elm, Spillway, and Swimming with Elephants, among others. His first collection, The only thing that makes sense is to grow, was published by Moon Tide Press in December 2019. His second book, Mr. Rogers kills fruit flies, will be published by Main Street Rag in October, 2020.

Poet’s website: https://ferrypoetry.com