“The Surgeon” by Cameron Morse

If I  check my Facebook
for likes I must want
to be liked      but why

no one who sends me
wishes knows my birthday

      *

Would you operate
a second time if
the surgeon says there
is no point

      *

What have I created

Lili jokes
Theo cowled in his
dinosaur rain
jacket

head bowed upon
her iPhone climbs into
the car seat

zombified acquiescence

      *

He says the remaining
cells will grow back
fast and why lose time in bed
recovering

the same old territory

      *

Most of my junk mail
penile dysfunction

editors rejecting
my poetry

Who will disciple me
now that my youth

pastor has moved
to Arkansas

Cameron Morse lives with his wife Lili and two children in Independence, Missouri. His poems have been published in numerous magazines, including New Letters, Bridge Eight, Portland Review and South Dakota Review. His first collection, Fall Risk, won Glass Lyre Press’s 2018 Best Book Award. His latest is Far Other (Woodley Press, 2020). He holds and MFA from the University of Kansas City—Missouri and serves as Senior Reviews editor at Harbor Review and Poetry editor at Harbor Editions. For more information, check out his Facebook page or website.

Image Credit