science-fiction double feature in poetry

The one major difference
between science-fiction and religion
is if the person who wrote it all down
believed that it actually happened
if they believe that the story
they’re telling is in some concrete way real.

If the story being told
if no one at all believes it
not the person making it up
not the person who’s listening
nobody
they’re not even putting much work into
pretending they think that it’s real
then it’s not science-fiction
then it’s
the stock market.

I have a deep love of science-fiction
I have a deep distrust of religion
but the stock market
oh brother
that’s bullshit all the way down.