A stranger’s first glance at a sandpaper land,
To the untrained eye so stark They think our God forgot to wave His generous hand.But go within the seeker’s slow embark: Touch and venture forth upon the endless expanse
And excavate where ancestral cultures fade.
Interrogate the cliff mystery’s romance
And lose your step in ruins adobe made Hear the insistent flutter of looming raptors’ wings
Spooks lizards under rocks of ginger veil
Brings a prick to jack-rabbit springs
As roadrunners skitter to quick avail See the honeydew and sapphire skies on copper-penny peaks subsist
Sleeping violet mantle sprinkled with heaven’s dreamy eyes
From a yawning dawn’s foggy mists
To awestruck travelers this vista lies The scent of desert blooms wrapped in lemons tart and peaches warm
Meadow hues blushed and painted wild
Beware the sly and patient cactus’ unforgiving thorn
Unsuspected, drawn to their scent, beguiled The moon rises from amethyst mountain cloak
Winds howl denouncing the mesa’s plateau breeze
Arid powder of lost, wandering animals, now bones,
Summer dust awaits the overnight freeze.
Karen R. Sanderson
Karen was raised by a mother who wanted to be an English teacher and who worked for Merriam-Webster as a proofreader and an aunt who could complete the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle in a day. Their favorite expression was, “Look it up!” Karen reads punctuation and grammar manuals for fun. Her favorite book is the dictionary.
Karen is an editor and proofreader, blogger, writer, and grandmother. You can find her at The Word Shark website. Find her blog here. Connect with Karen on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.
PHOTO CREDITS:
- “Scenic desert landscape at sunset” by Schlomo Polonsky via BigStockPhoto
- “Anastazi cliff dwellings” by Tony Laidig via BigStockPhoto
- “Cactus blooming” by poem author, Karen R. Sanderson
- “Moon rising over Arizona desert” by Henry Hazboun via BigStockPhoto
- Author photo by Nelly Hernandez Photography
Nice to see you here on Elizabeth’s blog site, Karen. You write so many different TYPES of poems – amazing. From the funny to the thought-provoking to the scenic, they’re all wonderful poems to read. You write so the reader SEES your images.
Thank you, Pamela. I believe variety is my spice of life. I finish doing a serious poem or story, then I start feeling goofy and my humorous side comes giggling out.
Thanks for visiting Heartspoken, friends! Elizabeth posts some wonderful articles (herself and guests) about connecting with God, nature, others, and self. A wonderful blog – I’ve been following for some time now.
Thanks for sharing some of my own reasons for admiring Karen’s writing talent. She is a wonderful observer, and she has that gift for helping us see what she sees.
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Pamela!
When I first moved to the SW, I thought, “How brown and blah.” But if you take the time to look, you see so much beauty. I miss it!
Yes, and that that lesson about the things we’ll see when we take the time to look around us holds true anywhere. I hate that so often miss things because of being in too much of a hurry. Nature begs us to slow down and appreciate her precious gifts!
Thank you so, so much for letting me share your beautiful poem here at Heartspoken, Karen.
The desert definitely has a beauty of its own. I’m accustomed to the yearround lush green of the Northwest, the raging rivers, and the abundant flora. Thanks, Karen, for showing me the subtle beauty in the desert.
Thank you so much, Denise. Yes, our flora here in the mid-Atlantic region is entirely different. When we go visit our daughter in New Mexico, it’s like entering a whole new world. Karen has captured some of it beautifully!
Beautiful and very visual. Enjoyed your painting of words.
Thank you, Shirani. Speaking of painting, I’ve painted a few desert canvases as well. 🙂
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Shirani. Yes, I thought Karen’s piece was quite rich with imagery, especially having spent some time in that part of the world.
Thank you for featuring my Desert Canvas on your blog, Elizabeth. The post looks absolutely stunning! What beautiful photos! Thanks so much for making me shine.
Karen, this piece grabbed me when I first read it weeks ago. I was thrilled to find photos that seemed to reflect what you were talking about, but your words were beautiful enough.