Farewell to day. The heat layered
high through dawn, spreading wide over
spaces where long shadows formed beyond
ancient obstacles burdened into place.

Night… finally moved in.

People casually scattered. Stars opened
their windows onto a black sky. The desert
diner closed up; its neons splizzed out a last
drizzle of sparked light.

A warm migrant breeze slipped over the road.
Coolness followed, pressing onto the sand and
weeds and anything occupying space.

The car’s engine shuddered and then groaned
into labor breathing. A cylinder war under the hood
struggled to maintain life.

A cloud of dust rose from the car as I tossed a
bottle at the last road sign.