Desert Sunrise

Looking out the window

You’d never know

If you were a palm tree

You might shiver

The desert’s winter chill

Is no match

For the terror in my heart

As orange slices

Skim into the horizon

Gracefully illuminating

The trunks, then the leaves,

The cactus silhouettes –

Hope is in the distance

It’s showing up to say hi

But the now is bitter

I turn inside

And my posture crumbles

I wince, close my eyes,

Quickly straighten

And watch the sun rise

If the sky can change

Then so can I

2/8/2020