Drop it all leaving it

behind

in the back of my mind

racing towards the unseen

edge of an endless

road

to possibility

the spirit of america

calling to me

–

it’s rasping

rotting in the dry heat

of a setting southwestern sun

–

I’ve never taken drugs

but I want to

watch the world melt down

around me

feel time speed

slowing to a stop

–

watch the pale splotchy skin of

my hands

peel and recede

to

expose bones that creak

popping under weight

excess

emotion

–

I want to cut my wrists

let the blood seep out that open sore

puss

of some untreated infection

–

douse the unmolested dust

in some undisturbed patch of land in New Mexico

see what

tainted fruit

takes root

–

I want to pluck the fruit from my tree

bite into it

savor the astringent succulence

a desert plum

born of adversity