this desert

i try to read the clouds now
in a way i never did before
i traveled over under through them

this oakland wind is
wetter than i’ve ever felt
in california

telling of the storms
coming for us this winter

telling that we will
face storms which will
flood our homes and
still leave our state
thirsty

dreams built on desert
lands perhaps are
destined to be deserted
so we have to desert
the desert first

or

we can bring green to it

break the concrete

plant seeds

and still
it will be too dry
and some will hang on,
likely, ’til the very last
as humans are wont to do

so here
i will cup my hands
collect what i can
and hang on with you