-zilla

[Mark Cecil]

I'm all for author's intent but when I read this poem I'm more inclined to think that this is a natural disaster than a rampage from Goizilla despite the reference to Mothra.  As how can Godzilla be expected to rebuild the city as suggested in line 1

You say you want to rebuild the cafes,
restaurants, parks, galleries
exactly how you loved them. This shows the philosophical contradiction of God caring for us on the one hand in that he wants what's best for us, he wants the city to be rebuilt as it was but it was his allowing of evil and suffering in the first place that caused the disaster
Have you forgotten? You rampaged
through the city thrashing, insensate
like Mothra raging for her eggs,
but you had no noble motive. I'm getting a great sense of disdain here towards an almighty power which could highlights the tension between the problem of evil and a all power compassionate creator

The sidewalks look like puzzles.
Freeways split like banana halves. Great imagery here in both of these two lines
The buses don't run, love, The use of love here further emphasises a cynical disdain towards God as the main antagonist
but we can count change anyway.
We can ignore the rubble,
hurdle the felled trees,
or sit on the subway and feign
it's moving. We'll order the only food
on the corner store's menu:
deep fried rats and alley cats, a sense a hint of sarcasm here as people try to go on there everyday life despite the cataclysmic event.  Almost as an act of defiance to God for bringing the disaster on the city

make small talk
and pass the salt. Business as usual I guess

Previously titled: "Pass The Salt"

Changed "waterfront" to "galleries."
Changed "only you had no such noble motive" to "but you had no noble motive"
Changed "we can trip over rubble, ignore rubbish and debris" to "we can ignore the rubble, hurdle the felled trees"