Grieving Solitary

Grieving

I walk solitary in this desert terrain
marking its resemblance to my torment
Signs of arid life all about
as dry as my thirsty heart
longing to be quenched by water from beyond
For a descending cloud of thunder and lightning to strike movement into my apathetic soul

I note the stubborn emergence of lone shrubs and
tufts of grass that took a chance
and sprouted hopefully
after the last of nature's pity rained down-
now scorched and dead for daring to dream
The intermittent cactus, hardy
looming, smug at their own resistance to the foolishness of hope

And the realization assaults my sense of pride
I too…. like these so ridiculed,
wilt in this blinding heat and weep
Tears lapped up by the soil in an instant
My small donation to the cycle of condensation,
ensuring its continuance for time immortal
My own existence lately
fading in the blink of an eye
Knowing full well
others will walk this very ground
...............who never knew my name