smoke from fire
and southwestern dust
paints
a wicked veil
and smothers my soul
orange sherbet
sun sinks
tucks its
creamy tail
into the horizon
mockingbird
lands on nearby branch
watches me
wind up
the garden hose
jumpy sparrow
turns and flitters
at every angle
on a
King Pine branch
blinding sun punctures
my pupils
sunspots
dance
at every blink