Death Valley

What lives deep within?
Which thoughts, what vitality?
For from these must we emerge,
As there is little without
Except the baleful wind
Whining across bleached dunes.

Death is a void of expression
Stark, barren, arid.
Mere rocks scoured by flash flood
Twisted and gnarled;
Gravestones of salt extrusion
From emergent times.

What life there is in Death Valley
Lives underground and waits
For night or brief rain;
But then it must express
Whatever it is, for death 
Is to fail to come forth.

There are two deaths
In Death Valley:
The first is not to emerge
When that moment comes,
The second is that there is 
Nothing to emerge.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Fenn Avatar
January 6, 2021 at 8:46 PM
This is exactly how I picture Death Valley to be. Wow! I've never been there. I take it you have.
Goldsmith Avatar
December 15, 2020 at 7:01 AM
Your pen writes a wonderful picture. What an ending. Enjoy your day writing away...............
Walker Avatar
December 15, 2020 at 4:16 AM
Beautifully done. Love your work.
Marcum Wong Avatar
December 15, 2020 at 1:21 AM
A spectacular painting of the harsh reality of death in a metaphor that expresses this brilliantly, Aloha, Connie
Wheeler Avatar
December 14, 2020 at 6:54 PM
Very well done for describing a desolate place and humanity
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