are the scientific names for abnormal 
bone growth in the ear canal and under the tongue 

one has been drilled out of my auditory meatus 
while i was asleep 

the other has erected a row of bone hotels 
nestling my lower teeth 

why is my skull trying to grow over its openings? 
for safety? for a muffled mouthless bliss? 

somewhere in me there is a need to cover 
no matter what speech or song is lost 

i should be thankful that my frontal and zygomatic 
arches have not yet quested to close 

against the light 

Scott Ferry

helps our Veterans heal as an RN in the Seattle area. In former lives, he taught high school, managed aquatic centers, and practiced acupuncture. 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.

He is the author of four books of poetry: These Hands of Myrrh, is now available from Kelsay Books. His first collection, The only thing that makes sense is to grow (Moon Tide Press, 2019), Mr. Rogers kills fruit flies (Main Street Rag, 2020), These Hands of Myrrh (Kelsay Books, 2021), and Sea of Marrow (Ethel Press, 2021). He has two books forthcoming in 2022: fishmirror from Alien Buddha Press and Skinless in the Cereal Aisle from Impspired.

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