we were three days crossing the utah desert

from the red rock canyons
to the upper plateaus
past the virgin river
through the southwestern forests
and across the badlands beyond
 
he’s driving a truck in the pacific northwest
feeding the cats and taking photographs
meanwhile in colorado, i water his plants 
 
out the window the flatirons loom
the air is thick and blowing warm
 
i walk through his library and enjoy the books
finding the perspective of another look
 
the art on the walls
the dishes unused
an electric piano
and instrumental music
 
he loves the plateau and desert wilderness
topographic maps and geologic books
rolls of film and slides galore
all aglow of the desert’s color
 
i think he’s a dreamer
and shifts between worlds
withdrawn from the common
and makes his own rules
 
i’m playing his Vangelis
sitting in his chair
reading Castaneda
without a worry or a care

wonder what he’s thinking
in the land of the ferns
hiking within the tall evergreens
where waters abundant in rivers and streams
and moss grows easily upon the trees