we drank polluted air from dying lungs
our church wasn’t like most
our gods weren’t either
our altar was the convention center next to an adult mega store on highway 31
we worshipped the cracking feet of two alcoholics
who could inhale and exhale
cotton candy tobacco
in a manner that
made us less sad
to live where we did
because the clouds they made
provided shade for our failed dreams
and asphalt to suffocate our blemishes
because the rot they experienced
was more than what we did
we found salvation in their sadness
because it seemed greater than ours
even though sometimes they appeared happy
or indifferent
which was better than happy
their crucifix wasn’t made of wood
and the nails pro...