poetry
Larry D. Thomas and Nelson Sager
Cathedral Mountain
(Brewster County, Texas)
It rises from the bleak landscape
like bony hands
wringing in hard prayer.
The elements worship there,
cracking open their hymnals
of rock, mouthing in silence
their verses of ice and fire.
Of rock is the belfry, of rock
the dark bells soundlessly ringing
in absolute stillness, tugged
by the howling blind sexton
of the wind.
by Larry D. Thomas
The Desert’s Best
The desert’s best at break of dawn
as light’s begun to rift
the tenacious curtain of darkness,
before the sun can scramble over
the cliff at the horizon’s ledge,
on its way to the peak of the day.
The desert’s best at the crown of noon
when shadows disappear,
(except beneath one’s feet)
and the sun’s control
makes sure you’ll know
the difference between warmth and heat.
The desert’s best at twilight–
all color shades to grays and such,
as though nothing solid stays:
things only seem to be real, despite
their being close enough to touch,
as night soaks up what was once the day’s.
The desert’s best at midnight
after the night has come alive
owls hush deceptive cries:
over here–no over there,
their voices come from everywhere–
then all contrive—to let silence fill the air.
by Nelson Sager
10
Cenizo
First Quarter 2017