after artwork by Jahbulani Ori
i.
I met a god today
he sat by
the window in economy
no leg room
so he crumpled
his long legs to fit
I asked him of his flight
where he was
going? he pointed
to the night sky & city below
the lights poor
imitations of stars.
the black night is my skin
worlds are little round pimples
fat with pus to pop
earth would be the kind that bleeds
on its way out
ii.
The Destroyer told me that I could be earth’s last advocate. if I could convince him that this world is good, perhaps he would reconsider. I laughed. he sat next to the wrong one. perhaps first class holds a hero. are you scared? he caressed the blue bump on his forehead. I told him of aliens. humans fear life on other planets, worry about invasions. he dug his nail into the zit that believes itself the center of the universe & asked do you? my bones are tumors, my blood has tasted armageddon & the after. little green men pale in the wake of ships launched against my dark. what is here for me to keep? bring forth the saucers. take me up in a beam of light. my people already survived the apocalypse