Short Saguaro Poems

Saguaro Cactus
Stick like shilouette in morn
Birds feed and nest there...

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Desert Beauty

Giant Saguaro
Inch by inch, as her years passed,
The Sonora bloomed

© Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
February 11, 2008....

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Sonora Saguaro

Creamy flowers bloom.
Distinctively beautiful,
Oh, that southwest side.

© Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
March 11, 2008...

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snow kissed desert land
                                  ancient arms raised in wonder
                                      white-capped saguaro...

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When the Saguaro are in bloom
The desert is filled with perfume
But the way shadows play
At the end of the day
The faithful bride awaits the groom...

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Gunshot Saguaro 

Long spines.  Waxy skin.
Wounds within your flesh abide.
Tall.  Distinguished.  Dried.

© Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
December 6, 2009...

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the desert mountains
peppered with snow
winter comes
with its frosty glow
a beautiful photo
remains in my mind
of saguaro standing
their spines sparkle
with ice...

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There once was a shutterbug named Louie
Whose dry humor was a trifle screwy.
To a saguaro he said
Hands up lest I shoot you dead.
A shot; a flash; kablooey went Louie.

Date: 07/01/2019
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin...

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from the ridge line, with the mountain breeze
among saguaro and mesquite trees
a lone rider spurs his horse
and from a distance lassos my heart

not riding off into the sunset
he has a thirst he needs to whet
in the valley the oasis waits
drink your fill, drink your fill...

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Rather than talking to walls
I’d prefer a saguaro
For the wisdom they know.
Centuries – they come and go –
Leaving mysteries unsolved

And the traditions Loss mourns
Told through centenarian eyes
Could straighten crooked lies
With some persuasion – surprise! –
Instead they bristle with thorns....

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~*~

Petrified forest
the grandest canyon of all
Monument valley

~*~

dancing mesquite trees
arid breeze through sage and sand
Saguaro just pose

~*~

wolves howl at the moon
pack of coyotes scream and cry
beep beep roadrunner

~*~

Arizona heat
a hundred ten in the shade
eggs fry on sidewalks...

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the saguaro holds the answer
and it blossoms in the spring
with the thunder and the lightning
the cleansing monsoon rains
if you listen you can hear it
the echoes of the truth
that resound against the mountains
filtering down to you
the response to the questions
on the twisted road you travel
the signs that point the direction
as your destiny unravels...

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Green clinger on arid arroyo rock, 
Spring blooms of faded yellow you did drop.
Desert dry took a toll of leaf and branch
Leaving photosynthesis to your bark.
Life is tough, lizard kissed, so short and harsh.
Unlike upland cousins, you are blessed:
In your shelter rests a saguaro babe,
Whose stately arms one day will take your place.
                          01/28/2020...

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I look at you
I see you shine
and I fall in love all over
it happens every time

you open my eyes
to the wonders you keep
a place in your heart
room made for me

in the shadow of the mountains
where the saguaro stand tall
you are here with me
and we're loving it all

in the light of the moon
by the sea's whispering tide
you are here with me
the best part of my life...

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there is a reason
the sun sets in the West
going down, the day is done
as it sizzles into the sea

mountains majestic
green and tall
the mighty saguaro
arms outstretched

the moon rises
to a coyote howl
and a million stars
watch us sleep

the sun, jealous, in the East
rises early and tries to compete
although the dawn is a beautiful red
the splendor of the West wins...

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A saguaro cactus… am I
at times with white flowers, red fruit
melding variety into my surroundings

Beautiful, poised and strong
bathing in radiant sunlight
forever reaching toward the sky

Shadowed by neighboring dunes
absorbing the fast setting sun
proudly standing on my patch of desert

A saguaro cactus... am I
housing & feeding those near
watching over all who call this land home...

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I can smell the sulpher
electricity in the air
rain rat-a-tats on my roof
a welcome sound to hear

we sit on the screened porch
as the raindrops trickle down
lightning across the sky
thunder crashes in the clouds

I love this time of year
the monsoons a soothing sound
saguaro drinking in moisture
my plants happy in the ground

it will rain all night
a red dawn will appear
freshness in the morning
when the monsoon has disappeared...

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Saguaro cacti rise up like mighty sentinels 
boldly claiming the high desert plains
tall and proud, their prickly arms
forewarn intruders to stop and beware.
 
A daunting presence, bold and majestic
toughness flows through their cacti veins
Saguaro endure long hours in the barren wilderness 
with roots that persevere under dry, hard crust.

With no respite, save for the night
Saguaro rule valiantly in a god forsaken land. 


Written on 4/14/2018...

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at the foot of the mountains
in a valley that is green
in the shadow of saguaro
and arid desert terrain
you hug and kiss me goodbye
I know it's the very last time
quickly mount your horse
and off to the west you ride
no glances over your shoulder
as you pass the mesquite trees
on a new trail that awaits
looking for all that you believe
maybe it's just a myth
and maybe it's really there
but you'll never know the truth
unless you search everywhere...

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Sweet crickets, the tune
You’re playing tempts me to sleep.
By your tune, I will drift off
Better to a place dark and deep.
The low moon and toads
As well as I are your audience.
Why, even the saguaro blooms
Have opened with interest!
The night will soon bend over
And kiss my eyelids closed.
From Earth’s port into the sky
Of oblivion, I will go.
But should I judge your tune
To be my favorite solace
Promise me you’ll return
One night to play for me again....

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looking out a window
as your coffee drips
more snow and freezing cold
how many more winters
before you go

you're dreaming of the mountains
of saguaro and endless sun
a taste of dreams you know
how many more winters
before you go

you know her love is true
indiscretions painting yours
a cold wind that always blows
how many more winters
before you go

as you move away
closer to your fantasy
in dreams you move too slow
how many more winters
before you go...

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the moon glows eerily on mountain ranges
casting shadows long and strange
saguaro standing tall and lean
with brush and boulders in between

stars don't help or shed some light
no settling these disturbances in the night
coyote roam and search for prey
to keep the rumbling of their stomachs away

thoughts cast and fall on desert terrain
wondering what will happen if we should meet again
distance grows like the shadows from the moon
dreams discarded that were roughly hewn...

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when the treasure loses sparkle
when the trinket has some spines
like the mighty saguaro
the treasure has less shine

when you're the runner up
and the trophey is not as large
as the one they gave first place
but you didn't try as hard

when you run out of reasons
or you're winded from the chase
and it all seems less important
that's the answer that you gave

when you mean more to you
than anyone ever could
and you leave the others hurting
thinking you're misunderstood...

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