waking up from the endoscopy

by Lindsey Siferd

my father said that he hopes death washed away all of my brother’s pain
leaving just the joy

everything these days is a sign, everything these days is auspicious

what would it mean to let just the joy remain

how to see god, even

but every time i soften my heart
the blows, the blows!


Lindsey Siferd has previously been published in Atlanta Review, Epiphany, Ghost City Review, and others. She works full-time as a college admissions counselor and lives in New York City. She will graduate with an MFA from Columbia University this fall.