Hints of Black Rock
Hints of Black Rock
I
Extreme desolations peculiar scene
a place of heritage among Black Rock
like birds of stone within seasonal flock
on soil so alkaline devoid of green.
The perfectly leveled floor of this waste
land where Rooster trail plumes seen from a far
a speck of wildlife from hood of our car
to stand in nothingness just for a taste.
Ride for miles towards unbroken skyline
to feel yourself hover over Salt Lake
there is no footing nowhere to connect.
Follow the gibberish written on sign
read well such lack of roads so much at stake
unforgiving landscapes demand respect.
II
No shadows on this ocean like expanse
only a few images of footprints
of everlasting horizons blueprints
as miles of barren earth slowly advance.
Small pockets of native population
a tuft of grass or a few sprouts of scrub
only pieces never the complete shrub
will grow slowly through their depravation.
Gerlach entrance to The Black Rock Desert
preparations are made for dry lake bed
our shelter water and some packed up tools.
To settle into bold silent concert
on flattened heavenly playa misled
a place for people bending broken rules.
III
Dried cracked earth of desert to horizon
built family between cracks and loose Black Rock
seasoned Burners living within our flock
where all this open space plays on reason.
Larger playa only broken by sky
to drink the essence of this elixir
and run naked into blistering fire
where sometimes you hear battling souls cry.
Life upon an invisible ocean
where invisible Schooners hoist their sail
to transport traveler to dry mecca.
In desert our true voices have spoken
through thickened white of dust storms hardened gale
a glimpse upon alpha and omega.
IV
Boundless opportunities to explore
each inch history of desiccation
a white example of deprivation
a buzzard takes flight in the wind to soar.
If you pass my tent stop in for a drink
to share my water and my little shade
until the heat of day will slowly fade
“What brings you alone out here to the brink?”
Or later meet a Union Pacific
to leave the desert by jumping on trains
and following the tracks back to city
our expression became petroglyphic
on stone we talk about the lack of rain
we ask the desert clouds to show pity.
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Excellent poetry, and great descriptions, Jamie. I can easily imagine the landscape.
Thank you John. Jamie
Very nicely worked with great descriptive phrases for the imagination to visualize. I have seen the moon over the playa and that is a beautiful sight. Well done, Jamie.
Thank you Phyllis. Jamie