There is a church
on the other side 
of that garage door.

Inside the church 
(which used to be a Jiffy Lube) 
there is music, 
there are stomping feet
there is a passion-inflamed 
madman 
shouting
into a megaphone.

Jesus is being summoned
on the other side 
of that garage door. 

But on this side, 
where gas-powered tools 
leak and dream
to be rented, a white cat wanders 
into the room
with a white-haired 
hoarder.

“They’re either right 
or ridiculous,” he says, referring to the 
churchgoers. 
“Maybe neither. But you can’t say 
they’re wrong.”

(repeat) 

And disappears into a cloud
of smoke, 
leaving me alone
with the cat and the sound of glory
beating
down a garage door.

---

M.P. Powers is the author of The Initiate (Anxiety Press, Fall, 2023). Recent publications include the Columbia Review, Black Stone/White Stone, Mayday Magazine, and others. His artwork can be found on Instagram @mppowers1132