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Open Poetry #9
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Of Deserts And Cactus (From Boyhood Tales series)
| Open Poetry #9 |
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Of Deserts And Cactus (From Boyhood Tales series) |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas 
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Of Deserts And Cactus (From Boyhood Tales) Part of the mystic of our southwest the desert, or what we call the desert.; an arid, hot area of Prickly Pear, Mesquite, Cholla and Saguaro, that grow among hundreds of other sun loving plants, and for a youth, such as I, it's a veritable forest covering the plains, gullies, hills, and mountains. Everyone knows the Saguaro; a gigantic sentinel growing fifty feet or more, weighing six tons, whose upraised arms, candelabra-like, is seen in every western movie made; the wickedly armed Chollas, or jumping cactus, with barbed tips that burn like fire, and seemingly attack from three feet away. And within this forest lives an amazing variety of animal life; birds, mammals, reptiles, insects; a wealth of life little seen by the uninitiated; all living, breeding, and dying, under searing sun, chilly nights, little water, even less rain. It's in these southwestern deserts where I spent many of my boyhood days, where I learned many lessons of life, and death, where I saw the power of nature, the hand of God, where part of me will always, reside. w. james beard, jr. [This message has been edited by jwesley (edited 08-15-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Wesley James Beard, Jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
where I saw the power of nature, the hand of God, where part of me will always, reside. You have painted it so well...I lived in the southern desert of CA for 18 years and you have brought back to me memories I shall forever cherish. And yes, if you want to see heaven on earth and shake the hand of God then the desert for sure is the place to be. The desert is one of haunting beauty and all should enjoy if only just one brief stay. BEAUTIFUL WRITE. |
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MMoonchild Senior Member
since 2000-07-13
Posts 1715PA |
jw...that's beautiful ... I have never seen a desert..actually I have never been west of the east coast...but I made a friend on here one day who described the desert to me and I wrote a poem for a challenge elsewhere The Desert Never Sleeps Like the torrid heat of the afternoon sun Absorbing the dew when the mid-morning's done Like the blossoming fruit of the Yuccas' new flower Attaining the height of the tallest of tower Like the tracks in the sand that were left from our walk Erased by the warm desert breeze as we talked Like the clouds in the sky shades of heavenly blue That appear to be angels floating gently above you Like the windblown ashes so gracefully strewn That belonged to a loved one whose life has passed on Like the beauty that steals the stark desert scene And a love that was both majestic yet serene Like the strength and the frailties of the fairer sex The desert's both simple and also complex 1/7/99 MM and then in another challenge turned it into this sestina....  The Desert, She (Sestina) The torrid heat of the afternoon sun Life absorbing, the mid-morning dew Leaves tracks in the mind, erased by the winds As clouds drift in sky, a heavenly blue Floating above the starkness in bloom The strength of frailties filling the gloom Ocherous landscape desolate this gloom As afternoon temperatures rise in the sun Graceful the flower of yuccas white bloom Northern Flicker atop cactus rich, dew With blossoms of cardinal, in contrast of the blue Painting the barren in the swirl of the winds Clouds running wild, the approaching, storm winds Heavy in moisture challenging the gloom Darkness to deepen the light of the blue Cools down the flames of the fiery sun Drenching in pools, the parched dry of dew Providing relief for the next dawning's bloom An oasis in mind begins to form, bloom I crawl into my dreams, cloaked in your winds The dampness created, the touch-causing dew Frees, provides refuge from the forgotten gloom As the storm abates and the beautiful sun Streaks the sky silent, blending in blue Dusk, viewing above, serene shades of blue 'Til occupied skies, sparkle their bloom An indigo night, asleep, rests the sun Dunes in moon's shadows, a calming of winds Lends glistening fingers to stave off the gloom Awaiting the morning, a thirst for its' dew Seeking the fertile, in arid, of dew Majestic the woman, each step senses blue Life is a day in time, in this gloom A traveler's challenge for each dawn's new bloom The coolness of night to the warmth of day winds Silent sand steals, when awakens the sun As the sun recedes to the blending of blue Droplets of dew weep their yield upon bloom Night swallows the warm winds, laying rest to the gloom. M 6*12*00 I wish I had the opportunity to see one... thank you for your memories ~~soft smiles Maureen |
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