The Warm Night

Large and near and palpitant,

Desert stars hug horizons,

And the day’s heat, reluctant,

Backs off a little, but just.

All afternoon the hot winds,

But where are the evening gusts

To blow out the heat and creak

At the windows? The insects

Seem extra elaborate

And the birds to bed early.

Up the slope, the biocrust

Maintains its ragged blanket,

And the desert plants content

Themselves with their strategies

For exactly this much heat.

The humans, who have goosed it,

Avoid it, staying indoors

For the most part, with machines.

One sits out on a stone porch

Watching the stars grow thicker,

Almost a taunting quiet.