DESERT FLOWER

you stunning desert
my first desert
with dunes gentle
and mountains huge

your sand is red here
and of a pale cream
further away
and then red again

in the morning
thousands of tiny feet
have woven patterns
of life and death

with steps so light
your dunes
aren’t bothered
smoothness remains

until our clumsy
loud and ugly
stinky jeeps
violate them

red surface
a soft sea of dusty waves
your smooth even face
has been pierced through

infused with life
by a rain
we only witnessed
in thunder form

tiny mighty seeds
sprinkled you only
know when
have blossomed

behold –
the blooming desert!
a sight we never
could wish for

precious, glorious
snow white flowers
have pierced through
your smooth redness

we want to kiss
each and every one
of you
and gift you our tears

for you are
a reminder
we did not know we needed
and a promise

of impossible hope.