I
The desert is painted
ocher, turquoise and white
in the right kind of light.
II
In the desert there are times
when the only sound
is hollow wind.
III
In the desert
the heat of day
vies for your allegiance
with the cold of night.
IV
What you see in the desert
is sometimes a reflection
of what you believe.
V
What you believe in the desert
is sometimes what becomes real.
VI
In the desert there are ghost flowers,
barren cousins to the blazing star.
You must follow the bees
to know the difference.
VII
Flowers are surrounded by needles,
the desert protects its own.
VIII
There are reservations in the desert,
places where the mind can go
when pain is unbearable.
IX
Though the desert is harsh,
sand makes a soft bed
perfect for bleaching bones.
X
Desert mistletoe is unarmed.
Its seeds are masters of deceit
sprouting where others dare not.
XI
There is a valley of death in the desert.
The Old Woman Mountains
nurture life above the clouds.
XII
In the desert you may not remember your name
but it can be fatal to forget what you are.
XIII
The silky flycatcher, glossy desert denizen,
reminds us the blackbird is everywhere.
After reading Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Wallace Stevens
K. A. Brace said:
Sort of like Wallace Steven’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.”
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Ronald E. Shields said:
KB, thanks so much for the reblog…your readers have been very generous to me.
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K. A. Brace said:
Good, I’m glad it worked out for you. >KB
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K. A. Brace said:
Reblogged this on The Mirror Obscura.
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gerry said:
You sir, should be poet laureate of the Sonoran Desert. What a beautiful litany of images. Friend of KB, former NYer living in Tucson 12 years. I will return for more bursts of your work. Thank you!
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Ronald E. Shields said:
Ha, that’s a wonderful idea, thanks so much. I spent some years growing up in Yuma, and 29 Palms, CA…been in love with the desert ever since. Thanks for taking the time to read my poem and especially for the wonderful comment.
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Mama Zen said:
Beautifully done.
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Ronald E. Shields said:
Thank you Mama Z.
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quirkywritingcorner said:
Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
I liked this and thought I would share with you.
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Ronald E. Shields said:
Thank you for the reblog…very kind of you.
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danceofdemocracyindia said:
Impressive. Liked it.
‘dod’ Rangers
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Ronald E. Shields said:
Thanks ‘dod’.
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Truedessa said:
Saw this over at KB place didn’t realize it was your work but, now that I know it is I had to come over and say I thought it was wonderfully done.
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Ronald E. Shields said:
thanks so much
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grapeling said:
fine pen, Ron ~
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jo-hanna said:
This is terrific.
At times soothing, or handing out warnings. Descriptive and lovely to read.
Didn’t quite get the jump from flycatcher [ they have just arrived in northern Europe] to the blackbirds.
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Ronald E. Shields said:
Thank you jo-hanna. In the desert the male silky flycatcher is black…resembling a black cardinal.
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claudia said:
i think the desert is a place where things get real and where we start to see things clearly…. i once spent a night in the desert in a tent – i will never forget this – it was frightening and totally fascinating at once
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Beth Winter said:
If I were to quote my favorite stanzas, I would be copying your entire poem here. Your imagery grabbed me at the beginning and helped me sink deeper with each subsequent stanza.
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Grace said:
I love each part & breaking them into fragments make it easy to digest & marvel ~
A terrific job Ron ~
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Oh the desert… I kind of got that old song of America in my head… but a very apt way at looking at this.
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Kathryn Dyche Dechairo said:
I love your exploration of the desert in your thirteen stanzas. I especially love number 4.
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Brendan said:
Everywhere indeed! And a fine 13 for each of them, if we take the time to count them as carefully as the Master had. And after those 13 views, how can we not find ourselves everywhere? Great stuff.
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freyathewriter said:
If anyone ever says the desert is just sand, I’ll point them in the direction of this wonderful poem!
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hypercryptical said:
A fine exploration. If only we looked at everything in thirteen ways – maybe we would appreciated and understand ourselves and our world more…
Anna :o]
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Ronald E. Shields said:
thank you…I agree, we could do with a bit more examining and less judging in this world.
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Ginny Brannan said:
“What you see in the desert
is sometimes a reflection
of what you believe.”
Mirages, ghost images, even ghost flowers…haunting imagery. Loved your capture of this place.
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billgncs said:
I like how you presented this – the desert jabs and bites and stings – as though all that is precious comes at a cost.
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Ronald E. Shields said:
I think you are right about the cost…so worth it in the end.
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Abhra Pal said:
“In the desert there are ghost flowers,
barren cousins to the blazing star.
You must follow the bees
to know the difference.”
My favorite. Smiles.
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Cressida de Nova said:
I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name…no not really ….but I did recognise it in your poem:)
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Ronald E. Shields said:
so far you are the only one to pick up on that reference…clever woman 😉
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wolfsrosebud said:
hollow wind is good for a writer to be inspired
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Abhra Pal said:
“Desert mistletoe is unarmed.
Its seeds are masters of deceit
sprouting where others dare not.”
I love this – such a great piece Ron.
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MarinaSofia said:
Lovely fresh take on the desert. I have to admit, I’m a bit terrified of it myself and find little of beauty there. But when I read your words, I do become open to the experience.
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