Martian dog
by miguel mendoza
I just ruined
A good friendship
But I’m playing a game
And here
These assholes from mars
Think they can just
Claim independence
Not if earth has anything to say
Sometimes one has to assert dominance
Pew, pew
Pew, pew
The martian’s spaceship catches fire
Even though
That wouldn’t happen in real life
“Martian dog!”
I say
But really
That guy was a human too
He just lived on mars
Maybe he even had a family
And some friends
Pew, pew
Pew, pew
Another martian dog
Catches fire
Daddy Issues
by miguel mendoza
Sometimes
When I’m having
A stiff drink with my friends
I smell
My father
Right there
In the glass
Suddenly
So many nights
Awake
Wondering
With bloodshot eyes
If he’s alive
Or playing
Sentinel
For my mother
For my sisters
Or calling
The taxi companies
Or checking the jail’s website
For inmates with the same name
As my father–
Suddenly
I’m not so thirsty
Anymore