It was easy to see it that way.

Growing up, you never believed
that God was throwing lightning to the ground.
You knew that was your dad, who spat
them from his belly,
strong enough to split furniture
and leave marks on the ground.

Growing up, you never believed
that rain was just the tears of angels.
You knew it was the lament of your mother
from behind a cracked bedroom door.

Growing up, you never believed
in tectonic plates. You knew earthquakes
were just your dad’s work boots
trudging up the creaking staircase.

Growing up, you never believed
in nice days until you looked up
and realized how blue the sky was
the day you buried your dad.

After that, you began to believe in other possibilities.

^{Title comes from a riff from the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode Alien from LA.}

About the Author:

Alex Carrigan (he/him) is a Pushcart-nominated editor, poet, and critic from Alexandria, VA. He is the author of Now Let’s Get Brunch (Querencia Press, 2023) and May All Our Pain Be Champagne (Alien Buddha Press, 2022). He has appeared in The Broadkill Review, Sage Cigarettes, Barrelhouse, Fifth Wheel Press, Cutbow Quarterly, and more. Visit carriganak.wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter @carriganak for more info.