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
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Evanoff Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Bravo! I loved this...thank you, a real treat.
Mcmurray Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Hi Sara, I'm glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you. tom
Mcmurray Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Hi Tylor. Thank you for the read and comments. I will send you a message with some info on the ballad stucture along with a scansion.
Kendrick Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 4:51 PM
Great flow, rhyme and rhythm in this one...Enjoyed..Glad that I chose this one to read this eve..Sara
 Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 10:04 AM
I liked this piece a lot! The only reason I didn't rate it a 7 is because I don't think the rhythm is natural, at least, it is disturbed in places. It is a great poem; I just don't see/feel a rhythm. Keep it up!
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