Phoenix, AZ

Today through the windshield
Camelback grew like large
mushrooms in the sand.

Each mound crumbled forth,
covered from the sun down
in dust, like a red

and dull-throb contusion. I saw
the green-and-flower spine-forks
of desert drink bloom

elegantly in the moonrise,
steady through the breeze.
The stars found her back
raised high and breeding inward

when the praying monk
breathed through them.
                       -JM, ca. 2000
                               Photograph taken in January 2009 at White Sands (not Phoenix, unfortunately).