Ten Years in the Tropics

No road without the white-hot shimmer
of illusioned water.
No green grass except
among the black stubble of recent burns--
as if ash could take the place of rain and give life.
No lingering twilight or slow-moving dawn
separated nights of hot moon from burning days.

In those days I believed
that earth was fire-- it was red
and hostile to life.
I believed all water was illusions.
I thought "storm" meant dust devil, sandstorm, firestorm.
I though grass would always be
the color of lions
and that one square foot of shade
was priceless real estate.

Now I seek the sunnier side of every street.
I've learned all the words for rain.
I've watched roads flood with real water
and green life sprout
from black earth.
I've forgotten how life comes from ash.

Collection available! Knocking from Inside