Today’s prompt is to write a poem that recounts a dream or vision, and in which a woman appears who represents or reflects the area in which you live.

Daemon of the Desert

I disobeyed the first rule of hiking in the desert 
which is turn back when your water is half gone
I hadn’t yet found the petroglyphs I wanted to photograph
and so I continued until my bottles were dry
thinking I still had one more in my backpack

I was wrong

I headed back toward the trailhead
but it was warmer now
no other hikers on the trail
no shade at high noon
my tongue dry
my lips cracked and sore
my arms red with sunburn

I sit on the ground too tired to take another step
and then I can’t remember—which way is out

and then I see her shimmering in the sunlight
dressed in white voile that flutters in the scalding breeze
an aura radiates from her
maybe she knows the way out
maybe she has water

I try to stand, but I can’t
I try to call to her, but no sound escapes my lips
and so I crawl
the rocks cut my hands and knees
she’s so far away
I try but I can’t reach her
and then 

nothing

I wake as she presses a prickly stem against my lips
a jelly-like substance squirts into my mouth
it tastes bitter but soothes my parched tongue
she breaks the stem and squirts again and again
until I can finally whisper thank you

she rubs the gel onto my face
and my skin feels cool
then she helps me to my feet

we’re standing on a hill
she points and I can see my car
not so far away
joy fills my heart
I turn back toward her—

but I am 

alone

©ARHuelsenbeck