from across the lava fields - Mozaga

from our home, we took a different route

edged by volcanoes and framed by wide desert sky
past the prickly pears and succulents
and on and on we walked
further still, until coming to the lava fields
we leaned against the sun-warmed niche
to study its form and texture

then closer to the ground, bands of wan light
caught lichens of silver, yellow, orange and grey
ants scurried and lizards darted through the dry gorse
a thorny spider was waiting-waiting-waiting
one foot pressed against her silken trap
as the wind out-sang the hoopoe and shrike
and towards the distant palm trees we saw 

this summer evening 

spread across the lava fields

as if they were molten and on fire once more