I Have Long Departed Life

you cannot crucify me now or scourge my body red for I have long departed life to live among the dead there is no gravestone marker laid no earth disturbed above I live within and in-between the hatred and the love I walk the dusty ditches of New Mexico alone a thousand shades of red I see that bleed from ancient stone she walked me west of Eden where the buses run on time she says the bus is never late if you provide the dime I gaze back at the garden gate the gate and garden - gone! I turn to her with hope she might tell me what has gone wrong, her thread-bare bones stand silent white then vanish in the sand and mixed among the mica grains gold rings from her left hand the west wind blows with rage so wild it cuts and strips my skin I sit down under cactus shade to contemplate my sin as turbid air disturbs my fate the desert disappears I rise into the morning sky my face now flushed with tears but fear is dissipated soon it drowns along with dread for I have long departed life to live among the dead