Final moments of desert’s day.

Fire and gold struggle against the night,

Its inevitable purple and black destined to prevail.

While turquoise skies protest the change

Sentinels of the show, saguaro fingers

Direct spectator’s eyes skyward

As sage and greasewood look on.

Coolness replaces searing heat.

Lonely calls of feathered hunters

Echo through the evening air

Where moments before, scampering

Creatures of the land attracted keen eyes.

Victims of sharp talons witness

The final moments of desert’s day.

Desert stars replace the golden orb

As sol sinks below the distant horizon,

Purple and black have prevailed, if but for a short time.

Strips of gold linger as if in stubborn struggle

Reminding all that triumphant return is near

When creatures of the night will again

Hide from sol’s scorching rays.

Final moments of the desert’s night

Desert’s battle begins anew, gold and fire pushing aside

The lonely cold of purple and black,

Joshua trees stand in ready for change.

As creatures of the ground scurry about

In frantic search for tiny morsels

Rushing to avoid the scorching orb’s triumphant return

Escorting the heat to the floor below

Feathered creatures return to the sky above

Circling lazily, eyes seeing all, anticipating, wings ready to fold

Shadows in flight brush the land

Sending creatures of the sand to burrows and bushes

As the battle between gold and purple begins again.