ACUTE WHITENESS

salt flats, mirage, desert

Acute Whiteness

Desert hot
a mirage, road melts
before our dreary eyes
no passing cars, solitude
White salt flats disperse
endlessly to the horizon
we squint as we sense
water drops slip down our cheeks
burn like hell
from ultra light, acute whiteness

We are solo, doomed
in the colossal vehemence
of the Tunisian sun
colorless, naked earth
we trudge along
With hope to reach assistance

Alas, a village

Reviews

[Fran Marie]

I can feel the intense dry heat
beating down in this one, like
desert sands of white out
nothingness, fiery hot your
deep descriptives take the reader
there, so well written & expressed

[Betty Hermelee]

A lovely review Fran! Thanks so much!!
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

How scary to find you are in the middle of nowhere in such barren and baking conditions. Your description Betty is awesome here. All that burning heat doesn't bare thinking about. What a relief to come across a bit if civilisation. Enjoyed the read very much. Thank you.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

A bit scary at first, but alas some assistance, even though we didn't speak Arabic! Thank you dear Chris for a thoughtful review
Truly, B

[Patricia Wedel]

I was on the edge of the Journey... as though my Life was in Danger...
What a Relief you found a Village. There must be Vistas of Wide Open Spaces where it seems like an Oasis where a Mirage may appear.
In my Retirement years.. it is enough to read poems, and watch Documentaries on Television via U-Tube. Be blessed. softly, Pat

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you dear Pat... this was a real story in Tunisia long ago; frightened that we wouldn't find a living soul...
Truly, B

[CD Campbell]

You did so good with your descriptions! I could taste the salty hot air, feel the heat from the empty sky and hard baked ground. If anything, the experience you had was intense and translated well to paper. The last line pulled you and me out of the abyss. Great!! CD

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you CD, much appreciated!
Best, B.

[Dave Brown]

I am not sure how many times I have watched Lawrence of Arabia just to hear the music and see the desert
This reminds me of the crossing they had to make that nearly did them in, "the Nephu??"
Interesting subject matter Best "B"

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks best Dave! Yes this is actually a true story (how could one make this up?) great review!
read moreThanks best Dave! Yes this is actually a true story (how could one make this up?) great review!
"Best"B