Desert Life

By Andrew R. Duckworth

Some imagine the desert holds death,
Draining life from the body.
I look at the desert plants
And know otherwise.
There is more death in the city
Because the city is where we go
To have respect drained away.
The desert holds more lessons
Than one has room to hold
And that makes it dangerous.
The desert is a threat to be sure
Because we approach it’s rock
And it’s dust with an arrogance
That closes off the mind.