The desert has the eyes of hawks
Soaring wild and free
Hills painted with russet tones
Were once under the sea

The ocean floor is full of life
Cactus coral reefs
Mesquite flow with the currents
There is no change of leaf

In autumn nor in winter
There is no hint of fall
But many snowbirds come to roost
Can barely count them all!

Sometimes there is a dusting
Of slight, faint hearted snow
The mountains have a power
With sun it quickly goes
Springtime brings more color
The Palo Verde yellow floes
Wildflowers in riot
And the subtle cactus rose

But summer? Ah, the summer!
The desert's but a drum
For the beating incantation
Of a punishing, bright sun!

Not many stay in Tucson
When that drum does beat
Not many can handle it
The brutal desert heat!

That's where you get your sea legs
Under the pressing burn
If you can handle August

You're at the point of no return!


Write of Passage aka
Invisible inc aka
SoulSurvivor
(c) 8/14/2016