cold under evening glow means
we're in a state of confusion,
or New Mexico.

ice covers my mind and the sun that
shone on shiny silk sweaters at dawn
became shallow. it was really hard
to live with him after that.

we ditched the bastard and found ourselves
a bum off the I-10 freshly dug up
from stranglers' shopping malls. hitchhiking
really only works if you're gray or sleepy.
truck signals as unintelligible as the fields
they pass communicate. inner spirits
haunt the drivers who have passed this
way greater than or equal to twice.
get out, they say, or you won't again.