drought poem

[mnaz]

so you run to drought-stricken el paso
only to find it beset by the same lead-gray
indelible mud you disowned so long ago
and the locals thank you, buy you drinks
it must be some trick, this outpouring
though you take the offer, let it soak in
it takes a mighty effort to break a drought

if it rains in the dark north it is understood
if it rains in the desert it ceases tomorrow
if tomorrow, it will cease the next day
if the next day, then next week
if next week, then the week after
if the week after, then it's personal
there is no drought over your head
only a cult of clouds, you command
multiply on the nearest reservoir!

gray smudges and warm beer seep in
the desert is self-sufficient and proud
annoyed by this embarrassment of riches
torrents at the bottom of a nameless arroyo
drink in the bell curve, never over the top
no need to turn this drought into a flood
but words are dislodged, like radar swirls
streams and blotches, the weather channel
melted fractals, a real pollock throwdown

always halfway up a desert road or so
zen is a lesser road to ruin, need to pick one
the road is washed out, so resort to metaphor
like your fair and bare earth as a woman
follow her tricky curves into another state
she is under the weather, blushes green
threatens to break up a perfect marriage
bleached tan and casino tintinnabulation
two altered states made for each other
too much relief, too much scale in green
that was the point here, lack of scale

[dadio]

very good poem & theme.

[mnaz]

thanks man. and a true story too! cecil can confirm...

[ButterflyKiss]

Bad-ass....my style!
Thanks!

[Steve Plonk]

May it rain in the desert,
May cactus flowers bloom...
Great grim poem, mnaz...

[mnaz]

thanks steve, butterflykiss. another semi-autobiographical poemed-out composite sketch. i went around the chihuahuan desert calling myself "rain man" for awhile. and i even brought it with me to the mojave for a week or so... that hard-ass desert near hoover dam was green for godssake...