Mojave

Flying to the Desert

On the plane, 

Next to me;

Her book is Arabic, while

The big fellow in front;

Tattoos all over, hugs his daughter,

Whispering thoughts,

To her demurred, shy smile lighting 

The seats where we sit next

To an old man from China going

To see his son after some twenty years:

Typing Chinese characters into his phone.

.

Yes, the rain is an irony here,

Coming quick and ferocious

Unlike the dampness of home

Where we light fires

And brew soups to convene

The solace of evenings.

.

Gosh I love all you people,

And want nothing more than

To disappear into those far mountains:

Out there.

.

For just a day,

I’ll watch the water,

Rush down,

So I can be one of you.