“When You See God” by Alex Carrigan

When You See God
after Morgan Parker’s "Everything Will Be Taken Away”

When you see god, you don't like what you see.
Your rosary snaps and the beads spill out as acorns.

The beads spill out as the stained glass icons
lose their color and become transparent.

Your disappointment is transparent when you realize
your eyes sting not from His radiance, but from your tears.

Your tears could fill a baptismal font if you ever decide
to let yourself be cleansed again by the preacher.

The preacher promised you salvation and love, but instead
rubbed ashes from the last crusade across your brow.

Your brow furrows as you realize you are expected to
be grateful for this audience, to rejoice at His power.

His power wanes when you realize he asked for too much.
When you see god, you don't like what you see.

Alex carrigan

Alex Carrigan is an editor, poet, and critic from Virginia. His work has been reviewed by several different publishers and magazines, such as Quail Bell Magazine, and has been nominated for several awards, such as his debut poetry chapbook May All Our Pain Be Champagne: A Collection of Real Housewives Twitter Poetry (Alien Buddha Press, 2022).

Headshot: Alex Carrigan

Photo Credit: Staff