i will not turn you to stone By Scott Ferry

these snakes are tame

they are part of the show

they bite me from time to time

when i oil them with kerosene

i haven’t thought about how

i am different for a long while

i still remember when i got a thrill

from my own aberrations my own feral will

i have forgotten how to act surprised

the light is just the light not god

these eggs are my prayers

i have hoped they will never hatch

i took out my mirrors in my mind

and all i have are seeds roots towering pines

all i have is a wreath of kindling

and few sacred embryos

i am not a monster

i am not your mother

i have saved everything

for you

 

Scott Ferry helps our Veterans heal as a RN in the Seattle area. His most recent books of poetry are Sapphires on the Graves (Glass Lyre, 2024), 500 Hidden Teeth (Meat For Tea, 2024), and dear tiny flowers (Sheila-Na-Gig, 2025). More can be found @ ferrypoetry.com.

Image by Sarah Petruziello.