Ghazal for the un-raptured

Girls of a gilded age, with no religion,
praying to the aliens, low religion.

Archaeologists out to plunder afresh,
unearthing an ancient ruin, slow religion.

A Catholic priest lectures me on ills of
skipping communion, bravado religion.

My girlfriend’s father televangelizes,
and she cannot stand his talk show religion.

Tonight, I play with a nativity set,
my own Christmastime puppet show religion.

God sobs in my arms, but He could do better.
Goodbye, dude! I already know religion.

Some dyke beneath the night sky, speaking no shame,
gath’ring love poems, yes homo religion.

---

contains select quotations from Gary Numan ("Praying to the aliens") and Agha Shahid Ali ("God sobs in my arms")

Melanie Goulish

Melanie Goulish is a novelist, poet, photographer, and librarian. She  holds a BA in English and an MLS from Indiana University Bloomington. She lives in Lansing, Michigan with her spouse. “Ghazal for the un-raptured” is her first published poem.