Yellow Flowers

Yellow flowers decorate the hillside;
soft yellow, not the harsh look of well-
mannered hot house creations.  
These are bush flowers, not stem plants,
clusters of randomness perfect for the
unpredictability of the Sonoran Desert.

Whoever named this gentle obstinance "Brittlebush"
should be ashamed.  It is flexibility, daring and
courage stirred together to form a tenacious plant
that dresses the desert in festive attire.

Tall, elegant Sahuaros look down on the desert's
yellow floor and swoon at the sight of
the earth's undulating carpet.  
Bees sniff from yellow to yellow, a
slender coyote naps in the ample shade of
the rounded bush.

Soon summer will replace the juices of sweet Spring.
June follows too closely.  August is the brutal reminder
that this is desert, not Disneyland.  There is nothing
make-believe about savage heat and precious drops
of water.

Yet, few things die in summer's assault.  They simply sleep
to bloom another day, like yellow flowers that,
in this stunning moment, announce that
life is stronger than death,
more flexible than we think,
and capable of producing
wonder.

Amazing what drops from heaven can do.