the glacier gods slough off hunks of ice
 and throw it into the sea at an unprecedented rate

in Greenland, babies wait outside the general store
 snug in plastic-bundled strollers
 taking peace in the fact that civilization has ended before

the giant foreheads of past worriers crackle under my boot
 as I trek across their faces, not remembering the name of their gods

yes, the meteor hurtles toward us, with it&rsquo;s own god watching over
 yes, even the godless space trash has a god

the man cuts across five lanes of traffic
 and accidentally introduces his god to the motorcyclist&rsquo;s god

yes, god in this poem even when we&rsquo;re weary

#finalpoem: 11/16/15

the wick is broken in the candle and I&rsquo;m pissed
 because there&rsquo;s still candle in the candle

so I&rsquo;m lighting matches one by one
 and dropping them into the glass votive holder

the burnt matches drink the wax
 and then a small flame turns large

I worry the flame will shatter glass in my face.

In the next room the cat meows in his senile state
 and outside the fat squirrel shoves loquats into his good natured cheeks.
 That fucking squirrel, who doesn&rsquo;t love him?

The birds sing and chirp.

Once I registered those chirps as beauty
 but now I know how birds signal warning.

I love denial like an opiate
 flesh dissolving off the bones

I love a meatball sub and a crazy brunette and the intellect of artists
 and the hordes of people who&rsquo;ve walked this earth brave brave brave
 setting their good selves on fire to let a greater good emerge.

This plane &ndash; this snow globe I&rsquo;ve skated around
 while wearing a perfect red sweater

it will explode
 and I will incinerate

and then perhaps, I&rsquo;ll have to look at all the faces
 I did not help save.

- May 2015 Los Angeles

Ali Liebegott

#finalpoem: 11/16/15

Final Poem

Senior Discount

Shift #5

Ali Liebegott

Apocalypse, Now

#finalpoem: 11/16/15

Final Poem

Senior Discount

Shift #5