Winter In The Desert

The first time I saw snow
falling in the desert
I was in Joshua Tree.
The snowflakes,
sprinkled like confectioner’s
sugar, dusted barrel,
prickly pear and saguaro cacti.
This normally harsh environment
was suspended in wonderland
for a few minutes.

The snow didn’t last long
soon the area was soaked in rain
arroyos formed taking the water
out to the streets where flash floods
swept debris and automobiles
with the same force of a menopausal
woman rushing to clean house
before company arrived.

From wonder to terror in less than
sixty minutes. I hurried to higher
ground to get away from this temperamental
and harsh mistress of the barren sand.
Then just like that it was over,
no evidence of her tantrum
except for puddles in the parking lots
and debris piled haphazardly along the curb.