Dust Devil

Saguaro Life Cycle: 

Little Spike 

Just a sprout 

off his mum. 

Needles sharp. 

Takes awhile,  

years, we're told,  

to branch out. 

Slow to grow...

Oh, to be 

big as mum. 

Present Arms

Teenager 

saguaro. 

Yet unarmed.

Standing tall.

Wants to wave

yet cannot. 

Just waiting

for the time 

to bear arms. 

Old Timer

Years of sun? 

Two-forty. 

Day is done.  

These old bones 

sound eerie 

in the wind. 

Time to rest. 

Return to 

Mother Earth.

—Mary Lou Griggs