Coachella Valley Preserve

 By Marc Mangel

 

We stand

Palm trees tower above us

The water is still

Desert pupfish dart below

but no mosquitos fly in December

 

Outside of the oasis

Hills rise

A rainbow floats above them

And paints the hills below

Psychedelic hills — purples, blues, yellows, red

 

We walk through sand and scrabble

Dry grasses

Towards another oasis

On the horizon

 

The palms there stand strong and proud

The water is also still

Reflecting those righteous trees calmly

 

We sit and think and feel

A gentle rain rolls over us

Refreshes us

Invigorates us

 

We start back

 

Dec 2016/Jan 2017