My Rock

          Summer’s ending.

I sit on my desert rock, listen

          to the world’s hum.

                   Crows and ravens caw,

finches and sparrows chirp. A dog barks.

          Can I face

                   the halls of judgments?

A breeze strokes my face,

          brings me back to spiders

and lizards busy at their chores,

          private conversations—

sights and sounds I savor.

          This earth, my home.

High on the vast blue canvas,

                   clouds curl, float.

Taking a deep breath, I gather myself.

                   I bring what I am.