Reflections, Rio Grande

Drought in the Southwest

It’s another warm day in January
Too warm
too many such days

I sit by the river
It’s ice-free
the ducks and geese
have only to duck their heads, or dive
to find food
This is their winter resort

The breeze agitates the remaining cottonwood leaves
Tomorrow I will drive uphill
to teach skiing on scant snow

So is this the “new normal”?
Warmer winters, scorching  summers
and no longer enough snow
to raise the river
come run-off

I walk away
leaving the river to the waterfowl
their only worry now
not to get nabbed by a bald eagle

Ice Cone, Rio Grande Spring

Porch pattern

Canyon towhee

Song Sparrow