Gentle Earth, I beg of you –

Whisper to us the first sign of spring.

Annul this wintry despair

And a season of life anew, bring.

From the depths of Baja

Carry the warmth in upon a draft.

Poke the sunshine through grumbly clouds

And send it down as a gilded shaft.

Clothe the desert with the raiment

Of fleeting sheets of white rain.

Implore the wildflowers that they

Bestow upon us a fantastic display.

Help the button-face of the brittlebush

Peep over the dead, crumpled brush.

Bring forth the canyon penstemon.

Make the Mexican lime cactus flush.

With one stroke of rain

Paint the delicate creosote yellow.

Order the Engelmann's cactus to raise

Their trumpets of fuchsia and blow.

Tempt forth the birds to sing – hark!

I beg, usher in March.

~~~~~~~

Spring days like these

   Were made for katie ruellia –

Who is royalty among flowers –

   Robed delicately in purple.

There – she arrived for the festivities

   As the trumpeters blow their sennet.

Her crown is the leaves –

   The butterflies – her subjects. 

~~~~~~~

Coming from within a rising hedge

   Of voluptuous white oleander –

I sensed a turmoil; one writhe

   Seduced better than before

And within the naked boughs

   Of some palo verde – in a rustle

Of few leaves – I thought I saw

   Among them a potential

So quick and sullen, I almost not

   Deemed it worthy a mention

Until a lone grackle squawked

   That vernal suspicion

Then the wind flirted with a sage

   Whose mane shimmied – fervid –

As if the breath of Earth had encouraged

   Spring to dance for him.

~~~~~~~

SWEET CRICKETS

Sweet crickets, the tune

You're playing tempts me to sleep.

By your tune, I will drift off

Better to a place dark and deep.

The low moon and toads

As well as I are your audience.

Why, even the saguaro blooms

Have opened with interest!

The night will soon bend over

And kiss my eyelids closed.

From Earth's port into the sky

Of oblivion, I will go.

But should I judge your tune

To be my favorite solace

Promise me you'll return

One night to play for me again.

~~~~~~~

Good morning, fair cardinal –

How are you?

How are your children?

Your plumage is nearly outdone

By the sun's golden hue.

The mattress is firm –

My blanket is coolly sheer.

What's that?

Come outside, be with us?

Sorry, my bed is too cozy a lair.

~~~~~~~

What a brutal sun that assaults the cliffs

   Where cacti and mescals dare to abide!

Here and there, dozens of petroglyphs

   Decorating the canyon may be espied.

In large nesting circles neatly drawn

   In evaporating wisps and bold squares

In a sun giving thanks for every dawn

   In little starbursts and stick figures

In a deer, in an eagle looking strong

   In a war scene foretold by prophets

It remains unsaid – time is not long

   But to the same end, everything drifts.

~~~~~~~

Behold the marvelous wildflowers!

How they boldly carpet a sloping glen –

Our gift from Earth's seasonal showers.

Hardly is the desert recognizable

Come March to an untrained eye when

Spring has announced herself in full

Except for occasional saguaros –

The perennial observers to this annual display –

Perched on the precarious ledge they chose.

Penstemon and globe mallow are in glee;

Even the palo verdes celebrate

By showering the ground with yellow confetti.

~~~~~~~

SUMMER RAIN

Listen to the raging summer rain

Mercilessly battering the ground

Bouncing like rubber balls all around.

Rain is a little miracle gained

In the desert when it comes unbound.

My head is made silent by the sound.

This sense of cleanliness will remain

Because everything has been washed down.

The corner curbs of the street have drowned!

Harder still it strikes my window pane.

A peculiar sun breaks through a cloud

Tho' the raindrops continue to pound.

Listen to the raging summer rain.

~~~~~~~

April – breezy and demure –

Make yourself at home.

I've kept some tea warm.

Here is a seat of nature –

A trunk on which to sit.

The birds announced your arrival

By chirp and warble –

I'd been waiting for it.

I saw wildflowers in full flush

Arrive just ahead of you.

The bees buzz as if to say "hello"

And throng around the brittlebush.

Company is such excitement!

Show me your light winds –

Stir them up in the mountains

But thirty days – then what?

Oh pretty April – do not go –

You are one of my favorite guests.

Stay for a few months –

May calls but burns me so.

~~~~~~~

TRIOLET #1

The Arizona Queen of the Night –

She is a most mysterious flower –

The one seen dancing in the moonlight.

The Arizona Queen of the Night –

In a pale gown, appears near June's height.

Have you been lucky enough to see her –

The Arizona Queen of the Night?

She is a most mysterious flower.

~~~~~~~

I heard my name called in the wind –

Stirring up in my heart a thrill.

Neither a person at the trail bend

Nor stationed upon the hill

Did this phenomenon portend.

A second stronger wind waxed –

Rushing through the valley.

Hearing my name again, I was vexed.

By the rattling of bursage leaves –

The calling out was masked.

As the wind came, it hushed as quickly.

It waited for what I'd do next.

I listened – the valley was still.

Spirit of goodness –

I whispered – or of evil –

I bid, let me pass

If that be your will.

~~~~~~~

A stare stabbed me –

   My eyes darted – a presence

Loomed large, electrically.

   A horned owl was my assailant.

A rest in a mesquite tree

   Made a meeting of chance.

Through the glass door –

   The dividing line of succession –

We wondered about the other

   Who should have dominion.

By the talons I could discern

   'Twas the owl that won.

~~~~~~~

Rather than talking to walls

I'd prefer a saguaro

For the wisdom they know.

Centuries – they come and go –

Leaving mysteries unsolved

And the traditions Loss mourns

Told through centenarian eyes

Could straighten crooked lies

With some persuasion – surprise! –

Instead they bristle with thorns.

~~~~~~~

By a gently flowing creek –

   I saw a swallowtail flutter

About my head, as though meek –

   And land softer than a feather.

He was large enough, I swear –

   To sit in all of my hand.

He did not mind that I was there

   Or that I was entranced.

Soon, a second butterfly

   Distracted him by swooping down –

His mate, I surmised.

   How fiercely they swirled around!

Then breaking up, they moored

   To sup water from the red rock

Like two tasters of one accord

   Complimenting the good stock.

They were loving my attention –

   At least it seemed so.

Raising their wings in the sun

   Made a flash of black on yellow.

Then came a convenient wind;

   The two undocked at bay

And taking quick advantage –

   They sailed playfully away.