Bereft on a forgotten road

In the desert

In the cold

The grayest gray before night

 

I lay my tired body down

Resigned to go without a fight

 

A nameless mountain–cold, uncaring

considers me–alone, despairing

Stares square with wild eyes

To die with it could be my prize

 

I desire it.

Am absorbed by it.

I beg for it.

 

I imagine climbing, thrashing

Through sage and juniper

Clawing

Through spring snow

Fingers raw and bleeding

 

But it looks away and still I lay

Arms and legs

An eagle spread

 

I am any broken animal.

 

Body to fossil

Tears to stone

I am the desert

I am the road.