Heere ther be Gods



after swallowing the moons

Ghŭlach slurped rings and asteroids

shook comets out of the ecliptic

with its mighty mane

licked the largest gassy orb

to a rocky lump

and flared its massy wings


telescopes showed it moving

out into deep space

maw agape baleen whale style

a sigh of relief was heard just before

a mephitic discharge shot through

the inner system

cosmic residue, refractory, toxic, and opaque

blotted out the sun