Deus ex Machina: A Ghazal

A teacher once said chaos touches everyone, so that became my refrain.

Did we want to lose all we had? No? Then better be sure to click save.

My favorite stories in grade school were about princesses. I subscribed

to Grimm logic, to the kind of romance where a damsel must be saved.

Soaking wet in my white dress, I wanted to ask, but from what, exactly?

after the chaplain dunked my head in the lake, confirmed me as saved.

At my friend’s place, before you could spend seven minutes in heaven,

you had to step into a closet full of jackets and leashes, just to be safe.

I learned the whole concept of  faith, by definition, requires someone’s

conviction without evidence. And there’s no path to heaven save this.

In school I just wanted a boyfriend—would’ve given that boy my face

to wear locked on his chain. Would’ve promised to save myself for him.

1. A god that’s introduced into a play to bring about resolution or tie up

loose ends. 2. Any artificial or improbable device used as a plot-saver.

Was it like robbing a bank? How come the prince always showed up last-

minute, made it straight to her chest? How did he always find her safe?

I learned that certain guns, when fired against the skin, burn a keyhole

impression. Some are destined to shoot mags. And some have no safety.