… the Extraterrestrials!
Rom #50 (January 1984)

The light from her eyes
burns her family home to the ground.

The flames’ caresses cast
childhood memories into the winter air.

She turns her back on it all.
In her mind’s eye the burning prom dress,

the blackening graduation photos,
the cracking kitchen counter, scene of late-night

conversations with her mother,
always waiting up whatever the time might be.

She consigns it all to ashes,
her golden armour reflecting the fire that shakes

its fist at the stars, praying
that her memories of her parents will be strong

enough to drive away the vision
of the parallel smouldering outlines on the lawn,

the smoking remains of the aliens
that she resists the urge to lie down beside,

the aliens who came to town
and took her friends and family all away.