This section is devoted to poems that I write about the West 

Me and that Old Saguaro

We're buddies. He gets it.

He says- 
I'm just gonna stand here - try to remain upright- my arms hurt
Birds peck at me- they make holes in my body and live there
Snakes and scorpions crawl around my trunk
Ants crawl on my skin
The highway pollutes my air
But, I live, damn you, I live

People can't get too close cuz I'm prickly
I'll stab 'em if they get near and act stupid 
You can look at my old gnarled self but don't get too close
People seldom do- they just gape 
if they care about me at all

I used to be young and green and strong
I used to smell like spring all year round
I used to hold my arms up high in prayer
I was the envy of all living things in the desert

My wounds and scars are evidence of my life
I live, damn you.
I live despite and because of
The searing sun
The desert winds
The soft sprinkling of rain
The rare frost

I try to hang on
In spite of what the world does to me
I sing in the wind
I bask in the sun
I try not to complain and
I'm grateful for my life
I live, damn you.

That old Saguaro - he's my buddy. He gets it.