Some see only rock and dirt
dry, parched landscape
some see only that which isn't there
and understand so little
Hohokam
We are here
on unforgiving land
in unrelentless heat
we are here
We built canals to bring life to these desert lands
dry, parched soil bloomed with corn and beans
our houses of mud and stick spread from hill to hill
and we called this valley home
Under the blinding sun my people flourished
our spirits brought peace and good fortune
we took from the earth only that which was needed
and left enough for another day
The falling sun and rising moon
would call forth the stars which painted the skies
each a fire of our human spirits
and a reminder of our humble lives
Though long ago the flesh of our bodies
left these lands of desert glory
our souls are woven into the landscape
our spirit lives on
We are here
Walnut Canyon
Hands in dry, red clay
hands that dug the mud
and gathered the stones
hands that built the walls
and lit the fires
that burned within
An ancient city in sandstone cliffs
all but gone save these tumbled ruins
yet pressed into these hardened walls
remain the hands of a distant time
How small they seem
as I trace the fingers
so very small compared to the hands
of the man who came to gaze in wonder
at the hands of a man from another world
Palo Verde
Sweet, delicate flower of the yellow palo verde
beautiful, pale bloom of my Arizona home
do you flourish when I'm far away
do your songs sound as clear
when my ears cannot hear them
does your scent grace the desert air
with a fragrance I cannot share
Wistful, tender rose of the dry Sonoran landscape
fragile life in a hard, demanding world
do my tears bring the water you yearn for
do my prayers bring shelter from the sun
hold your bloom for one who loves you
save your blossom for one who cares
safely see me home again
Canyon
Mother Earth’s song rings clear in these canyon walls
her voice vibrates with the sound of red, coconino sandstone
bright with the colors of wind and water
she sings in exultation of the power of nature
and the persistence of time
From sun to sun her hand has touched this rugged land
each valley and mesa are testament to the force of creation
every crest a temple
every butte a shrine
Some who gaze upon these wonders feel small
and insignificant
as if the earth were mocking them with her vision of perfection
her glimpse of absolute purity
Instead, let us rejoice in her infinite might
let us look upon this canyon as a testimony to our existence
we must fill our lives with these same strengths
let us celebrate the forces of our lives
as this canyon sings of the power of nature
Superstition Mountains
It is the mysteries that draw me here
the dreams that float on broken clouds
they call me forth from city life
to walk the paths the ancients made
to places hid by granite peaks
The waxy green of creosote
reflects my face as does the water
that collects in pools under sheltering trees
offering protective shade from the sun above
In a distant past the earth spewed forth
the rock that formed these holy spires
the heat from deep within remains
in homage to this violent birth
I come to take my strength and peace
I come to worship these desert lands
my prayers are scattered on heat kissed winds
my prayers are answered with blinding light
Arizona Visions
The blinding sun beats hard
ocotillo and the jumping cholla
saguaros that stretch their ancient arms towards the empty sky
this is my forest
these are the trees of my world
I come here to find my peace
among these towers of desert flesh
it is here I feel most at ease
and one with the earth
This path I walk
is more rock than dirt
less of a path and more a break
where the earth has loosened her dry, hard grip
but for my rub of my feet does any trail exist
and without these daily steps
it would fade into this barren land
once more
The heat of day gives way to the cool of a desert night
life reappears from its place of hiding
as silent as the rattlesnake on the hunt
and the owl on the wing
as noisily as the coyote as she sings her song of love
to the very moon which shone upon these lands
in times long before any man dared to claim them as his own
