Simon Fleischer’s most recent poem to appear here was “A Game of Catch” (July 2017)

Endoscopy
By Simon Fleischer

The image of a camera
snaking down my daughter’s throat—
winking around her digestive curves—
hungry flower blooming around corners—

I remember how she looked
turned on her side,
mouthpiece stretching her face
into a startled, monstrous O.

In this artificial light she looks terrified.
I don’t protest, I stroke her hair.
Her socks are too colorful.
Her gown shows too much flesh.

There has to be a point
when you say: not this,
lines you won’t cross because
you can’t turn your children into art.

Meanwhile, milk-white tie-dye
dreams its way down-tube into her veins.
Heavy eyes like dragging chains blink twice,
fall like sudden rain, and then she’s gone.