One proves God’s existence by citing the stinking garbage
dumps of Lagos, Nigeria; Fresh Kills, NY; Bordo Poniente,
Mexico; Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Pacific Ocean.
Mountains of teeming human blight: humankind’s
temples riddled with scavengers, bulldozed into mounds
thick as pyramids. Here lies Altar, Chancel, Transept,
Sacristy, Eucharist, Scepter, wriggling masses. Pilgrimage
of diesel engines belching black repentant fume like
thunderous guilt, depositing spermy blankets, bloody
towels, expelled placentas, vomiting couches, frizzy wigs.
Priests preside these cresting seas. God forgives. God
absolves. Come unto Me. Dogs shit upon these pews,
gulls pull coagulated fat. This our ark. This our craft.
Board it now, wretched sinners. Here lie rotten ratty
pants, here loafers stiff as husks, here’s plastic sucked
by lips. No greater proof than this. Let us, then, gather
round these sewers, shiver humbly, and worship God.
from subTerrain #70: Outsiders