An engineer must have placed this cross, which stands at attention beside the fence, its arms lining precisely with the second strand of wire.
A geometric red ornament with name and dates provides the only color in the scene.
East Navajo Drive
Hobbs, New Mexico
This one faces away from oncoming highway traffic and instead looks at the unpaved road its red dirt as hard as the months-long drought.
Two large silver conchos adorn the arms like surrendering palms turning toward sunlight.
In the late winter afternoon thin light distills everything into shades of tan.
The top of the cross from la familia is crowned by two glass door pulls, screwed one into the other.
US 62/82
Lea County, New Mexico
Cupped by the road’s downhill curve, the stand of overgrown trees crowds two crosses, their shameless whiteness rising suddenly in the descending darkness.
Both crosses keep the same red-on-white color scheme, though rust spots escape the paint on the flower-ornamented shorter one.
Where does this end? Will the bearer of flowers have to place an even taller marker?
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Skinny road threads between black cliff, cold river. On the curve’s cusp, the well-ordered cross hugs a rock, a tree.
Routed edges of bright pine boards catch filtered mountain sun. A ring of faded blue flowers cups FATHER-stamped wood and a pot of flowers lies overturned, as though flung container-first from a passing car.
State Highway 63
San Miguel County, New Mexico
Flags and flowers,age indicated by fade, are bunchedat the base of a metal memorialfeaturing a tow truck,arched letters, plastic-shrouded pink teddy bear,a new, sky-colored ball cap,a Master-locked box.
A round tin sits on the cabinet,ROSEBUD PERFUME COMPANY just legible.The contents have meltedin the Sangre de Cristo sun, leaving onlya greasy film of Rosebud Slavesmeared with dirt and dead ants.
Did Joey Crispin have chapped lips?Or was he fond of roses?
Interstate 25San Miguel County, New Mexico
Roadside weeds keep a respectful distancefrom lumpy concrete basessupporting identical metal markers.
A golden necklace, looped like a rosaryaround Martha's cross, has threecolored glass gems, orphans' birthstones.
From the highwaythe arms seem to touch -Mike reaching to his wifeforever.
US Highway 84deBaca County, New Mexico
