Monument

by Elva K. Österreich

In silence

in rain on the desert

pungent greasewood with that railroad tie richness

burning.

Coughing, gasping

they come

one, two, droves

crowding into the desert sanatorium

where water follows canyon walls

people trek now in naugahyde boots, with sunscreen.

Swoosh with the

horse tails of old times

pushing away the flies with brushy yellow snakeweed

then

and now.

Geological, paleontological, archeological, botanical

and a presidential proclamation.

Boom — monument created.

This is only human

really nothing is newly created

the ranches, with their melting adobes,

creaking windmills,

now leave the water

alone.