DESERT FIRE

Black smoke curls eastward

Darkening

The hot white sky and the road through

The mining town of Winkleman

Is closed.

The desert is burning.

Thousands of acres of desert

Brush burns.

How long has it been since we've had rain?

Riding down the mountain,

We pull off the road to watch the smoke,

A thickened sky blotting out the sun.

Then once again we go on

Our way,   toward

Home.