Marfa

By Julie Cullinane

I’ve already lived and died a few times
Had my heart ripped out
Tasted concrete
I’m currently in between
Iterations and resurrection
So, I went out to where the earth is old
Where no human or machine has known
Your Time the only acceptable currency
Your map is a needlepoint blanket of stars
Charged Neurons that flicker
their secrets in morse code
It was terrifying in its brutality
Disrespectful in its beauty
Which is not nearly the right word
If there is a word for
The truth of myself I found there
The ease with which it would swallow me
Spit me back out as sand.
I thought of my old dog back in Boston
Struggling a little more each day to get up
And be my vigilance
Barking at cars and the constant sirens,
Guarding our home
While I am here amongst the dinosaurs
I will return
A changed animal