In The Desert

(by Alex Eisenberg)

The earth returns slowly to life Deathly
flowers now burst between bare rocks
irrepressible just emerged from
the long winter a spectacle of color
mountains in all directions mineral-streaked
a vivid orange fungi bird nests on wild cliffs
eagles swooping over the sagebrush sea
a herd of pronghorn playing running
out of time. But we hadn’t come for the scenery
We came to block the mine.