a god in Good Will

after Leah Lakshmi’s “god is in Ross Dress for Less”

One step on the sensor and the mechanical sliding doors

open to a type of heaven on earth.

Welcoming everyone,

the cold cement floor and the stale musty tingle

in the air.

This oasis, escape, weird middle ground,

no man’s land:

a possibility, a portal

to another self.

Costumes hung out row

after row:

t-shirts, pants, shoes, shorts.

An opportunity to wear new, old jeans

and step back into the world as a new, old person.

So if there is a god, he would be in the thrift store

giving his silent peace offering,

whispering, I’m sorry

                              you don’t like what you got

          maybe try again

                                          for the price of $4.99