through this slot canyon
we have decided to explore
past the ancient palm trees
living on a waterless shore
and pillared by a fault zone
we traverse a mud walled wash
that gets thinner and thinner
while late November clouds
pillar into silent gray burdens
above our heads, you say rain
I assure you that water isn't
attracted to this dry spot,
I see walls rising higher,
you say the flood will easily
cascade past us today, the
rocks fall away beneath my
feet and I find a small stack
of black crystals, the first I've
ever found in 20 odd years
of driving the sandy back
roads now I almost get stuck
again in my battered Toyota
RAV4 once again, it's not
a new 4WD, it’s from the
wandering into narrow places
unknown except to a few
desert rats and the sand dunes
are mostly leveled on the
valley, low, now the fat rain
pushes down for birthing,
I advise a hasty retreat
to a thermos of hot tea
and you want tacos again,
good thing I didn't lose
the keys this time, you win,
the rain terrorizes windshield
and hood, now I drive away,
turn to ask whether you want
chicken or beans, you’re gone,
conversation shattered, my
fingers, around these rocks.
by Ruth Nolan, copyright (c) 2010 by Ruth Nolan
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