we pull masks off monsters and find humans
but when the alien’s head stays put we bristle
and wonder if we’re in over our heads
we’re just kids
we’re not supposed to be
confirming extraterrestrials
or
gratifying the cosmos with our
curiosity,
I mean
even the brave ones never expected to find anything
and the cowards were never brave enough to believe
it possible
but now, as we’re taken captive on a ship resembling a metallic
milk bottle
we’re the ones who are tied up and they’re trying to pull off
our faces
perhaps they think it some kind of
greeting
or at least that’s what my optimistic side says as they
keep tugging at our hair and rubbing their chins
pondering our existence,
or perhaps thinking that
they’re in over their heads too, and that
they’re just kids that aren’t supposed to be
confirming the existence of
extraterrestrials
like us
Josh Sippie is the Director of Publishing Guidance at Gotham Writers, Editor at The Razor, and an Associate Editor of Uncharted Mag. His work has appeared in McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Hobart, Stone of Madness, Bear Creek Gazette, Truffle, and more. When not writing, he can be found wondering why he isn't writing. More at joshsippie.com or Twitter @sippenator101.