Taos Spring 2025

by Eileen Wiard  

To live in the desert now

high desert

is to witness drought 

in noisy gravel not 

black tar melting 

scorching bare feet

but raspy voice

laced etchings on necks cheeks hands

noses alert for smoke

Coyotes yowl fire danger 

water is life 

it is water that lubricates the ring to slide off a finger 

tears that melt the ice in the heart  

allow one to listen and another to hear 

synovial fluid gliding through joints 

enabling cramping muscles  

to straighten and release creaky bones

so what happens when the spigot turns 

and nothing comes out 

how does a dried-up old woman 

losing specific words names dates vigor 

begin another trip around the sun 

will she make it to seventy 

her canteen is empty and it hasn’t rained 

alive in the desert 

for now