Cactus Valley

A line of clouds forms in the sky
 A hazy heat builds slowly
 The sun appears beyond the point
 A barren stretch awakens
 Cracked but seamless to the horizon
 Idle landscape, no distractions
 Dust and 'weeds drift in the distance
 An image flickers by
 I see the colors unfolding before me
 There's a presence in this unrelenting force
 Wind and water work in tandem
 Claim the living - unforgiving 'til the end
 Can't stop this natural course
 The moon will light the changing scenes
 A silent contrast to the efforts never seen
 Burrows fill as life retreats
 A constant battle to defeat the path serene
 Cactus valley
 The ground hardens worn but sharp
 Stifling heatwave focused
 Idle creatures scan dominions
 Balance failures lost
 I see the colors unfolding before me
 There's a presence in this unrelenting force
 Wind and water work in tandem
 Claim the living - unforgiving 'til the end
 Can't stop this natural course
 The moon will light the changing scenes
 A silent contrast to the efforts never seen
 Burrows fill as life retreats
 A constant battle to defeat the path serene
 Cactus valley
 Cactus valley