The Inn to Heaven
When the dark-skinned stranger arranged
six glasses of whisky on the counter,
each a tiny chalice,
the lights dimmed.
The liquid glowed
as he downed each
like a man would down
water in a desert.
His body sent out rays of light.
By the time he lifted the sixth,
we were almost blinded.
Arms outstretched,
he rose in the air
and passed through the ceiling,
which closed like skin over a wound.
Owen Gallagher is the author of four poetry collections (you can find them here); the most recent being Clydebuilt, published by Smokestack books in 2019. The Sikh Snowman, a children’s picture book, was published by Culture Matters in 2020 and his poem "Straight Up" was a Guardian poem of the week.