Beneath the Desert Sky

[n8vman_PREV (deleted)]

Since we're all sharing writing in some form or another, I thought I would add something I wrote a while back for my English class.


- BENEATH THE DESERT SKY -

As I head home from an exhausting night of being on the job, I watch numerous vehicles zoom by as morning commuters travel to work. I drive by an airport and watch commercial aircraft roar by as they position to take-off or land. Everyday I cope with the stresses of daily life. The frantic pace begins to overwhelm both my mind and body. There are times when a relaxing day at home or a quiet road trip is not sufficient to alleviate the daily pressures in my life. Soon I begin to recall of a place where time almost seems to stand still. The reservation home of my grandmother is a location where I frequently go, both physically and mentally to put my mind at ease.

As a youth and to this day, I would spend my weekends or vacations at my grandmother's home. The modest concrete block home sits atop a large hill in the middle of nowhere. Well, it seems like the middle of nowhere, since it is located on the Navajo reservation and miles from the nearest town. It is an isolated location which remains fairly quiet and peaceful, unlike the modern outside world. Only the sound of wind kicking at the ground and livestock can be heard.

Just as there are cycles in life, I begin my walks always with the greeting of the rising sun. A ritual that I have not altered from in the many years I have known the area.

As I gaze towards the eastern horizon, a flat-topped butte, conical and other oddly shaped mountains, tower over the surrounding landscape. Monuments of rock standing watch over the aging foothills, I recall the stories of giants that once wandered the earth. Twin brothers slew the monsters and scattered their limbs onto the earth, transforming them into mountains using weapons given to them by their father, the Sun. Flat hills and small valleys stretch across the remaining landscape. Native plant life such as yucca, cacti, and desert grasses blanket the ground as they conserve what little water is available. Brownish, red earth engulfs what does not make a notch for itself.

I casually wander around the hill to stare down the western landscape. Black volcanic stones litter the hillside. Scattered fragments of petrified wood also litter the ground. All moisture depleted from a once living tree and slowly transforming it to stone. Hues of red, green, blue and white quartz glow through it's solid trunk.

An arroyo or dry wash lazily snakes through the valley floor. One story high cliffs line the edges of the arroyo from years of erosion. Cracks in the weakening and unstable wall begin to give way. Soon large chunks of earth tumble to the ground. Large white rocks protrude from the sand and with their last gasp, they reach skyward as they are slowly being consumed by the sandy bottom. Wiry tamaracks line the edges of the arroyo and sway in the short, but cool breeze.

The midday sun begins to beat down onto the landscape. The environment grows quiet as animal life retreat to their burrows to seek shelter in the cool shade. Under shrubs and rock, the shaded, cool ground provides relief from the pounding desert sun.

Following the arroyo southward, I spot a lone tree isolated from the surrounding native plant life. The large white trunk scarred from lightning whipping at it's branches. Shattered limbs litter the base revealing the years of torment the old tree has endured.

As the sun begins to settle in the western horizon, an age-old battle begins as blue skies give way to hues of orange and red. A soothing calmness begins to take effect as the surrounding desert slows its pace. Birds sing their last songs of the evening. Horses and cattle huddle together for protection. Soon nature prepares for the coming twilight.

Darkness soon shrouds the cloudless skyline. I remain outdoors for hours gazing upwards towards the heavens. With little interference from city lights, I stare in awe at nature's light show. Numerous stars blanket the black sky. The Milky Way bands across the vast heavens. In one moment, I glimpse a fiery streak ripping through the sky. As soon as it appears, the meteor fades out into darkness.

As I circle the landscape, it amazes me that the busy modern world has left my native homeland virtually untouched. The peaceful and tranquil beauty of this ancient landscape overwhelms soothes my senses. I can always find peace and comfort each passing year as I return home to visit with family and friends. Though it is my wish to return home everyday, I can always call on the vivid recollection of my mind.

[(deleted)]

`How soothing to read such words of comfort. It is refreshing to read words of peace and tranquility. There are many words denoting hate, desolation and prejudice...but, your words are of calmness and fond memories.
Thank you for sharing.

[ravenwoman_PREV (deleted)]

`That made my evening more peaceful. Thank you!! =o)

[plainsgirl_PREV (deleted)]

`Gives the rest of us a vivid imagining of the beauty as well. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us...I love all the writings of others on this site. Some I can really relate to, others are not in my experience so I can not. But it always leaves me with something to think about and I appreciate the sharing of others something of themselves. Brave thing to do really.

[n8vman_PREV (deleted)]

Thank you all for your comments. I do miss being back home.

Here's a photo of what my writing is about.

[ravenwoman_PREV (deleted)]

`How beautiful!!! wow! Thank you for sharing!!!

[plainsgirl_PREV (deleted)]

`This is great of you to share these pictures of your home for the rest of us to enjoy. Beautiful pink, lavendar and blue sky..I almost thought I could see Ravenwomans blue mountains off in the distance!(really, just kidding about that). Very thoughtful.

[(deleted)]

`Yes, thank you for the pics. Even if it wasn't your goal, you gave me a good help.
Congratulation for the writings too !