everyone has their limp by Scott Ferry

mine is an actual fucking limp

no metaphor just an arthritic knee

that rusts and floods and fattens with

normal use like an annoying young cousin

who is part of my body who wails like satan 

and if satan could sing he would sing out of tune 

on purpose as i try to walk 

for others it’s something else—

addiction, greed, lust, depression

not to say i don’t wrestle with those

but don’t tell me you don’t have a howling leak 

in your aura somewhere

don’t fucking deny it

and be kind to all of us with a cane

metaphoric or not is doesn’t matter

(don’t pretend yours doesn’t fit on this page)

don’t think we don’t understand the pain 

of waking and walking and pissing 

and drinking that coffee

and facing the stark light

with some shades and a faith 

and a handful of captured peace 

a manufactured grace 

a choreographed 

walk across 

the glass

Scott Ferry helps our Veterans heal as a RN. He has recent work in American Journal of Poetry, Misfit, and Cultural Weekly, among others. His second book Mr. Rogers Kills Fruit Flies will be published by Main St Rag in Fall 2020. More of his work can be found at ferrypoetry.com.