AVAILABLE
Grandeur is not available. Vacancy is available.
The pillars are and have always been ornamental. Accessories
for the well-heeled. Confidence created out of façade.
After all, you kept your money here. Dropped it into smudged
greasy piles on the counter where it was duly noted
in a little book you were allowed to keep. When you thought
of that money, you thought
of pillars, upright, unshakeable.
A temple for deposits. A temple for loans. Clean floors, orderly lines.
Not available for worship. Available for work.
Like a missing tooth caused by poor diet
6
or a sucker punch. Like a dog that kept
pulling on the leash yanking you along
then disappeared
just when you needed
guidance. Just when
you needed to be pulled.
So, the sudden fall. So, the stained knees
convenient for prayer convenient for surrender.
Hug a pillar. Hug the lone tree. Available. As if it was as easy
as calling a number, getting
a key. Oh, the cold space awaits.
Oh, the mausoleum terror.