Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MUSIC ON THE DESERT, by KATHERINE NICHOLS OWSLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MUSIC ON THE DESERT, by                    
First Line: The tumble-weeds whirl happily and spin
Last Line: To the sudden drumming of the rain.
Subject(s): Deserts; Drought; Food & Eating; Heat; Sun


The tumble-weeds whirl happily and spin
When the fanfares of the desert winds begin;
Dancing gaily over muted miles,
Moving where the whistling goatherd whiles
Away the hours behind his huddled herds,
On they twirl, in fancy following birds;
But for trembling seconds do they rest
When winds abate with one long conscious breath.

Now, on a sand-spume wave, poised dizzily,
A lark sings lustily in fearless glee,
Before his journey to some further place
Upon the desert's scarred and time-worn face.
A whippoorwill flies far across the plain
To bid the tumble-weeds dance on again;
But tired, they seek a sandy sunburnt bed
To hear the night owl flying overhead,
Crooning his dull and meaningless refrain
To the sudden drumming of the rain.





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