the salton sea

she says,
"you know you bring me down"
"uh-hum", i respond.
that is the best i can come up with
in this heat,
surrounded by boarded up motels, and
empty swimming pools

she says,
"you bring me out here",
her face wrinkled around her nose.
what she see are
millions of rotting fish on the shore.
what she see are signs, telling us to keep out.

someone is observing us, but
from where, i don't know.
she says,
"why couldn't you take me to disneyland?"

this was the riviera.

i say,
"this is the ultimate failure"

this was las vegas.

i say,
"this is death"

this was mecca.

i say,
"this is total freedom"

i know she doesn't know what i mean