He asked me why I love the desert
By | Emma Renly
Originally published in Issue VIII
We met at the crossing of a glacier creek
In a valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks
Seasons changed and we went down seperate paths
He stayed in the mountains, I became a desert rat
To him, this land must seem bare and bleak
It’s beautiful, including the sun’s blazing heat
I see towering red rocks, awaiting to be found
I feel icy pools of rainfall trinkleing through canyon ground
I smell ashes from a bonfire, now permanent on my skin
I taste the sweet spring water after a locals beach swim
I hear the roaring, raging river that drowns out all sound
And I now here I am explaining, I’m forever desert bound
He smiles and nods, understanding what he heard
But I look at him and know, he won’t fall in love with my words
