A Desert Memory Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

A Desert Memory

Have borrowed the title
From Bernard Walker,
Named poem on desert.

There, I lived, have crossed,
Saw deserts, deeply watched
The snakes, rats, and mounts.

Resilient are, firm, strong,
Saw the dunes, creep up,
As needed, soft or rough,
For shaping many mounts.

Desert is, to Bernard,
Nothing but mean, devil
To me are spacious, heavenly.

He writes of nights' dread,
He fears winds, darkness,
To me they, are angels…

I adore lone tree,
That thirsty, hungry,
That fights so fiercely,
And resists bravely…

To me that, is mentor:
"Stand in your ground,
Force bullies to eat dust,
Be fire and burn them,
Phoenix comes of ashes! "

I cannot be Bernard,
Complaining, or whine.

The desert and oceans
Have the virgin skies,
With galaxies, stars…

Desert gives me pride,
Dignity, walking tall.