The Desert Seep
by Geordie de Boer
for Edward Abbey
High up on the canyon wall
around a seep poison ivy,
columbine, and monkey flower
creep. Sand and rock convert
heaven’s spit into a feast for beast
and vegetable. Precious drops
plash into a sandstone saucer
below. The liqueur lures coyote,
hare, antelope. At the pool’s
edge faint spoor hint of fragility,
imply life in delicate balance
with the elements. Gods of cool
and shade protect the oasis
from sirocco heat and wind.
Abbey, since you’ve joined
them what gods guard against
the careless imprint of man?
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- | Geordie de Boer
Geordie de Boer lives in Washington state close by the Snake River. “He’s been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king …” and received a MCP at the University of Oregon. His poetry has been published in St. Anthony Messenger, poetrymagazine.com, Mississippi Crow, jerryjazzmusician.com; SNReview.org has published and Side of Grits will soon publish his short fiction.