Desert Afternoon

The Sun’s golden orb:

Sweltering, Burning, Evaporating,

Shines relentlessly

On the prickly, green

Cactus groves

That keep little creatures cool

Under the heatwave’s heat.

The air shimmers

As mirages

Of palm-treed oasis

Come and go,

And the thirst

For life-giving water

Keeps a lonely,

Sweat-sweltered

Traveller

Crawling across the sands

Of the desert’s unwelcoming

Stretch of sand dunes,

And a circling pair

Of hungry vultures

Mark the traveller’s progress

Hoping for

An easy afternoon snack.

Sometimes, life can seem like a desert, covered in forever sand dunes that stretch for miles and miles. It is important to be prepared for the journey because you never know where it will take you, or who you will meet. Some people are like vultures; they wait till you are down and struggling, then they maneuver you to their own benefit. I like to think that these people are few and far between. Most people will give you water if you’re thirsty, food if you are hungry, and a roof to sleep under if you are tired. The angels watch over us and can be counted on to supply what is needed at just the right time. The most important thing to remember is to keep your eyes on the next horizon, because there is a new adventure just waiting for you. Don’t count the steps it takes to get there, just focus on the goal and the steps will take care of themselves.