When I dream this desert turns green, blooms
clouds race where mountain lions loom
ash gray, the cool of blue rain comes
a redolent wind of desert sea
rushing waves, sand blown
sculpted saguaro forests
pale flowered yellow
drinking every drop
now this eve we drink
now before another dawn
of the mad thirsty sun

My lips are cracked leather
lizard dry, my breath melts into mirage
beetles emerge from dark caves
in flashes of iridescence, crawling
their tiny tracks, surreal sand paintings
art for cactus wren, hunting

Here, beyond yet another
sparkling diamond mound
lies a wild sea of the sailing ships, I've found

I went home, it was a long dry stretch of road
walking backwards toward the sun
the red heat dripped and pooled
rested in spaces of backbone
a white hot desert, sand blown
I went searching
beyond denial - to feel
I found lost parts of me
beyond the parch
and peel.

A thirsty desert dweller
my lips parched and cracked
from lack of rain
I wait for hours
days for love
to reign

There will be no roses on my grave
I do not want the red to mark where I lay
No people will mourn my life gone away
All the animals will retreat to the cave

People should cry at this untimely death
But no need to make so many trips
Because I just want to part my lips
And speak all the words that I once kept

There will be no fancy funeral
The coffin will shape who I am
I want them to remember who I was when
I didn't believe the race was so futile

So there will be no roses on my grave
Instead lay down lilacs
So every spring my scent will come back
And it will remind only you to be brave

Summer flowers, all the tiny petals
are colored stars falling to the river
floating in a watery heaven
sailing far beyond this day
into nothingness
into everything seen
like blood red petals
that mingle with
autumn's moon

a new winter world
of rich snow,
a head of fresh cauliflower
with floret trees.

pine branches
reach toward my window,
friendly visitors peeking in
to see how I am doing.