Rusty red metal sculptures
Silhouette horses rearing
Desert creatures come alive
Casting shadows across the barren land
Insect skirmish realized
130 grand scale art creations
Sprinkled
Passing over the roadside
40 foot serpent
Emerges from the silt
Like a desert safari
In an unknown land
Wildflower carpet in the
Largest California state park
Ocotillo bloom with crimson tips
Like Mother Earth’s sculpture
Contrast the arid setting
Utter silence
But the crunch of sneakers
Scrambling over boulders
Don’t poke me, cactus
Driving on mile of white glowing sand
Climb down into canyon wash
Smooth like waves or
Dripping petrified sandcastle
But we are the crabs scurrying
Squeezing in and out
Sucking it in as the
Light cascades down
Stay strong earth, don’t fall in now
Alien rock vista panorama home
With Martian window eyes
Slot canyon
Feels like free Disneyland
Bighorn sheep
Come down at sunrise and dusk
To drink or to admire statue
Soothing river, trickling waterfall
Hike into the wild
Palm canyon oases
Poking palms blackened
But green wigs return with sprouted new hair
On this Palm Canyon trail
Nature nurture
Jacuzzi under blaring stars
Chilly eve, hot bodies
No light pollution
First international dark sky community
California beauty
Sunrise colors swirl into our glass box
Post and beam hotel
Palms at Indian Head
Secret bar tucked under Olympic sized pool
Bungalows remain
Hollywood escape in the 50s
70 years ago
Did Marilyn, Clark, and Will Rodgers feel the same
Under this wondrous skyscape
Where the universe expands
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Melissa Curtin writes about travel and food for numerous publications both online and in print. Traveling around the world at age 20 on Semester at Sea fueled her desire to globetrot and learn about new cultures. Living in California has excited and delighted her with unlimited adventures. She splits her time between Malibu and Palm Springs. Find her stories on Lonely Planet, Zagat Stories, Roadtrippers, AAA World, SoCal Life Magazine, and more.
