Desert winter warmth delights regrowth,
a patient day attained, frenzy begins.
Sacred hose of waters travelling
becomes unloosed, joyous hands release
pent up exuberance, for
Spring’s robin has been sighted!

February! Your chilly name brings disclaim
from Northern States, with well opted reasons!
I cannot share miles seasons,
I live in sleeker climes.

There are daffodils blooming! Tulips
tumultuous upheaving drives
rocky soil apart, unscathed
and liberated, rebirth shows its strength!

Sweet sound of raptured watery showers,
aimed with judicious sendings! Bulbed
life requires axis-sun, and not much else.
I wash you into sight as my eyes adore!

Soon desert’s secret life, rare years attained,
will burst arid seams, frequent winter rains
have sheltered searching genesis! The flames
of rainbows fame will live in blighted sands!

Rooted brilliance bound on earth!
Reach you deep, hallow the hollow cycles bring,
touch me with soul! A sea of flowered land
can drown as surely as the salty reach!

Desert water cooled promotes regrowth,
a patent day retained, frenzy begins!
Sacred waters defined travelling
become soil-detained, joyous eyes release
pent up death replayed, for
Spring’s actions have been sighted!

Erin Moen
2/16/04
Photo by Erin Moen
Copyright ©

There is an exquisite beauty to the desert when winter rains bring a verdent, vibrating color to its arid wind-sculptured blandness. The orange-gold of the desert poppies blaze molten carpets of fragile thinness, interlaced with blue lupine, yellow desert dandelions and desert marigold. Add the white of blackfoot daisies and chicory and the bushy mounds of western peppergrass, also the purples of long-leaved phlox, feather dalea and filaree storksbeak, and the sight will stun you as it captures your soul.