Church of the Cul de Sac

[Lizzie]

Children bike in circles
while we, the parents, flock,
the Congregation of St. Coca—
cappuccino, latte, mocha. In yoga pants,
rain boots, and Seahawks jerseys—
a heathen's Sunday best—we are the Church of

“How do your kids like Mrs. So and So's class?”

Weather cycles, property lines,
water pressure, recycling schedules—
our sermon comes from Gary,
a friendly tarantula of a man
(slow and hairy)
with woolly bear caterpillar eyebrows.
He interprets passages of the HOA manual
and intercedes on our behalf
with its creator, our president,
to whom we pay our dues.
We think of unwell neighbors.
We are the Church of the Cul de Sac, chanting

“May the American Dream be with you—
and also with you.”

Children bike in circles
while we, the parents, flock.
We are the Congregation of St. Coca—
cappuccino, latte, mocha. In yoga pants,
rain boots, and Seahawks jerseys—
a heathen's Sunday best—we are the Church of

“How do your kids like Mrs. So and So's class?”

Weather cycles, property lines,
water pressure, recycling schedules—
our sermon comes from Gary,
a friendly tarantula of a man
(slow and hairy)
with fuzzy-bear caterpillar eyebrows.
He explains passages of the HOA manual
and intercedes on our behalf
with the HOA president,
to whom we pay our dues.
We think of unwell neighbors.
We are the Church of the Cul de Sac, chanting
“May the American Dream be with you—
and also with you.”

Our children ride bikes in circles
while we, the parents, flock
along the sidewalk like birds on a wire.
(I always heard that birds have church too,
congregated like strings of black pearls.)
We are the Church of St. Coca—
cappuccino, latte, mocha. In yoga pants,
rain boots, and Seahawks sweatshirts—
a heathen's Sunday best – we are the Church of
“How do your kids like Mrs. So and So's class?”
Weather cycles, property lines,
water pressure, recycling schedules: our education
comes from Gary, a friendly tarantula
of a man—slow and hairy—
with fuzzy-bear caterpillar eyebrows.
He explains passages of the HOA manual
and intercedes on our behalf
with our president, to whom we pay our dues.
We think of unwell neighbors.
We are the Church of the Cul de Sac, and we chant
“May the American dream be with you—
and also with you.”