Human Intelligence As Evidence of God's Existence

by Daryl Rogers

 

"Sometimes I wish the sun would just explode." --- Billy Joe Shaver

 

I'm at the post office
to pick up my rejection slips
and a book I ordered online
and, like most days,
the box is as empty as a drawer
in the morgue after the Second Coming.

Outside the building the parking lot
is jammed with the cars of
postal workers and customers
of the P.O., the consignment shops,
the tanning salon or the cubbyhole,
Pentecostal Church of the Redeemer.

The Dairy Queen is red and white
and tinted glass, the drive-thru lane
crammed with fat fucks shelling out
their hard-earned dollars for sugar,
salt, grease and caffeine treats
made by crack addicts and morons.

The sun is glinting off the sea of cars
like light rays splintered by water.
Some hick bitch in capri pants
and a Garth Brooks t-shirt,
is talking to a guy on a Harley,
while leaning on the open door of her car.

A little boy gets out of the Neon,
walks up, tugs at her sleeve
and says, "Mommy, I need to pee."
She slaps him hard in the face
causing his head to snap sideways.
He gets back in the car.

I'd like to punch her in the mouth
and ask her how she likes it.
But, it's Friday and I'd probably
have to spend the weekend in jail.
That's OK, he'll get even one day,
with her, or somebody.

 

© 2005 Daryl Rogers

Daryl Rogers was born in 1955 and started writing poetry around 1984. His first acceptances came from Wormwood Review and the New York Quarterly, which, unfortunately, only encouraged him to keep it up. He edited River Rat Review from 1986-1992. He's done some illustrations for small press magazines, including portraits of Patti Smith, Bukowski and WCW for Bogg Magazine. His most recent chapbook is Sunny Day, available from March Street Press.