Layover in America

“Pray till something happens”
                   her shirt exclaims loudly.
In this part of the country
                   they ask you, not if
You go to church, but which one
                   and if you don’t, then
Come on over to our church
                   it’s a good church.
Even in airports
                   you’ll run into a chapel.
I’ve never actually seen
                   anyone in those rooms.
I imagine it’s quieter in there
                   than it is out here.
Why not declare
                   the entire airport a chapel?
People say, “let’s pray
                   in silence” rather loudly.
Can anyone propose such silence
                   by non-silence?
If god speaks “silently”
                   is that silence too much?
If god speaks loudly
                   then what’s the deal with silence?
Prayer speaks loudly
                   for those that pray silently.
People pray hoping something
                   will happen loudly.

Rodrigo Toscano is a poet and essayist based in New Orleans. He is the author of ten books of poetry. His latest book is The Charm & The Dread (Fence Books, 2022). His Collapsible Poetics Theater was a National Poetry Series selection) His poetry has appeared in over 20 anthologies, including Best American Poetry and Best American Experimental Poetry (BAX). Toscano has received a New York State Fellowship in Poetry.
He won the Edwin Markham 2019 prize for poetry.