God In My Pocket
by Craig Berger

in my right coat pocket
   the god of creation
       'tween fingers rolled three
       nights torn tissue sexing lint
       intertwined one rubber band
       bent 'round waded gum she wet

           so, a planet is born

in my inside coat pocket
   the god of temptation
        slick upon a silver glint grin
        my sterling face reflects cap
        loos'd deep belly breath then
        release winter's whiskey kiss

           ah, just one more sip

in my right jeans pocket
   the god of salvation
       torn flap matchstick bent bar
       forgotten 3 am ink writ lipstick
       smudged her name number
       email one lonely night less

           I'll call her next week

in my left jeans pocket
   the god of heaven
      tangled budded wires smooth
      skin black gentle touch song
      starts chords then curl'd a
      pepper-voice'd angel's trill

          or, maybe later tonight

in my back pocket
   the god of destruction
       awful beast receipt crinkled
       white frow burrowed eyes wide
       ATM tatoo'd zero-loud shrieks
       OVERDRAWN! cock-block'd

           ....nah, next week

photography by Shawn Kuruneru