and i thought my jokes were bad

jenny’s sister passed

said she was going to stay for the funeral

 

i decided to get out of l. a.

rented a car

booked a room

at the sea and sun motel

and drove three hours

to the salton sea

 

i had never been

didn’t know anything about

in other words

i had no idea

 

there were a lot of structures

abandoned

defining decay

and i wondered if a bomb

had hit while i was in route

 

the motel looked like paradise

as it was intact

i checked in

and confessed my ignorance

the motel clerk

was more than happy

to give me a short history

 

with a better handle

i put my bag

and beer cooler in the room

and immediately drove

where i could

 

it was hot

but i kept getting out

and walking around the desolation

 

as the sun began to set

i sat down

 

i wasn’t sure this was doing anything for me

it’s not that i wasn’t drawn to it

well, except for the smell,

but i don’t need evidence

of the fundamentals of physics

i already focus on death and decay

and have said all i need to say

about the inevitability of both

 

on the shoreline

i was wishing i had a picture of jenny

 

i drove back to the motel

pulled the subway sandwich

from the cooler i had bought

while in route

ate

and then just drank

until i passed out

 

next morning i checked out

without even a shower

and drove back to the car rental

i left the empty styrofoam cooler

at the motel

so i just hoisted my bag onto my back

and walked for the nearest bus stop

to take me home

 

***