Welcome to 

the Desert

Facts about the desert:

Deserts in the Southwestern United States are areas of extreme heat and dryness, just as most of us envision them.  More scientifically, deserts, also called arid regions, characteristically received less than ten inches of precipitation per year.  In some deserts, the amount evaporation is greater than the amount of rainfall.  Semi-arid regions average 10-20 inches of rainfall per year.  Deserts rainfall is unpredictable throughout the year.  About 1/3 of the earth's land is desert or semi-desert.    

Poem about the desert

Desert Song

I THIRST 

FOR YOUR RIVERS

YOUR RIPPING MESAS OF SAND

GOLD MIRRORS

ON YOUR SINUOUS

I THIRST

FOR THE SAGUARO

FOR THE SWEET JUICE OF CACTUS

IN THE PRICKLING SWEAT

OF A DESERT SUN

I THIRST

 FOR THE SEARING OF HOT VALLEYS

THE BEND OF SHIMMER AND HEAT

THAT BOW THAT ARCS THE ARROW

TOWARD THIS CENTER, MY HEART

I THIRST 

FOR THE BLOOM, THE SWEET

LANGUOROUS SMELLS

THIS SUBTLE PERFUME

ELUSIVE, AS THE SCUTTLE OF DESERT LIFE

I THIRST

FOR THIS TALLEST, DEEPEST NIGHT

OF STARS AND SILENCE

WHEN THE MOON IS ONLY A MOON

SILVERING THIS NIGHT

BY: RUTH HOUSMAN