Desert Wind

The Desert Wind

has as many names as it has tongues

each whispering directions

                      to a forgotten city.

O.Promises of rare fruits and dyed silks

O.Pseduction of hands and feet

O.Pbathed in fragrant wood oils.

O.PA deep draught of fresh water

O.Pbefore setting out again

OP.with a pot of honey

O.Pand a sack of hard flat bread.

Do desert pathways move with the winds?

Or are they protected, kept hidden

                      until needed again?

O.Always I search

O.Pfor the city of my birth

O.Pa confluence of date palm and papyrus

O.Pa city called Patricia

O.Pof rich gardens and cool

O.Pstill evenings.

                                    —ko phangan, thailand 

                                    —17 august 96