Julie Bolt
The Riverbed
When our car broke down
in the riverbed of the Mjave desert
And our cell phone didn't work
and there was no one around for miles, miles, miles
I thought: I always wanted to perish in the desert
I love its smells and its eternity
But I felt guilty that my son and husband would die there too
So my desert death fantasy
wasn't really theirs
And I wished I was stranded alone
and could do my I imagined ceremonies,
The ones where I finally knew
I was part of something larger —
When we were rescued, I was glad that my family wouldn't expire
in such an untimely and thirsty way
But, as they towed our car, I felt some regret
For I knew that this was one missed destiny
And all else would be smaller than imagined
Bio
Julie Bolt is an Associate Professor of English from Bronx Community College. Her book is called Border Pedagogy for Democratic Practice. Her poems and essays have been published in anthologies and several online and print journals. She has presented and performed at conferences around the country and abroad. Julie lives in New York City where she reads and features in local poetry venues.