Dry Lake

Photo Dry Lake by David Saltaire


Rain lurks 

behind clouds 

too thin 

to send drops,

puddles, 
surging waves.

 flash floods go north, 

to green Seattle, 

easy landfall, 

where no resistance is 

 ever given by 

sandy bottom or 

rocky shore.

There the ancient

desert lies

beneath tons 

of breathless redwood,

dreaming of hot, 

days, dry

winds.

Oh Emerald City, 

so unaware of the pain

and joy of drought, 

endless blue days 

of aching sky,

summer's 

harsh eye 

in January

glaring

as slim clouds 

rush by

hopeful 

of a shower, 

only to evaporate 

to dusty twisters.