Bryce Milligan at Writers In Performance Series — Image by kenne
Desert mid-summer weather can provide many extremes
causing life to struggle to survive
in a relentless sun to strong winds,
heavy rains and dramatic lightning lined skies.
Since moving to the desert,
this blog has posted images of menacing skies,
with more to come, I’m sure.
Additionally, I have been writing notes
for future poems on the desert.
However, in lieu of my own poem
and as part of my “Capturing the Word” series,
I was recently reading Bryce Milligan’s book of poems,
LOST and certain of it (a several times Writers in Performance presenter),
and read his desert poem, “Lightning.”
Lightning
The days that lack that flash:
heat on the horizon,
thunderheads painted bright
with the promise of rain
to wash the desert dust
from needle and flower,
yielding up red and yellow
explosions on each cactus’ tower.
The days that lack that flash
bring me careening back
to your eyes that I cannot
tell from lightning.
— Bryce Milligan
