The town of Gerlach, Bruno-owned and run,
is like the capital of no man’s land,
abutting playa in the heavy sun
and gleaning Empire’s gypsum from the sand.
To Gerlach we retired for a rest
from camping – me to shower, them to play
the game of Magic – no one could have guessed
that night would lead two sudden souls astray.

A man who would be boy was then seduced
by moves and pictures, to collect each card.
A boy who raced to age was introduced
to fantasies adults should hoard. Too hard
to hold, too fast to fix, the grief began
one night in Gerlach: boys in charge of man.