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Chuparrosas sip from the cups
of orange-red ocotillo blooms,
the sky waves fresh gold dust
and the desert’s perfume
rises with spring
cracking open every new thing—
even as something old,
something blue, hangs between us
stitched darkly like threads
around a once-golden sun.
But I’ve long stopped wishing
for nothing blue.
Without night, I’d miss the stars.
Without the needle, there’d be no quilt.
Without seeing in a different light,
I’d miss the sharp beauty produced by thorns.
© 2026 Jennifer Wagner
dVerse Poetics: Something Borrowed, Something Blue
What’s Going On? Choosing Beauty
Wow, just wow, Jennifer! Profound. Without the night one would not see the stars. And being able to see the beauty in thorns. It is all in the way one looks at things! Really a good poem!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Mary. This poem is a beauty, full of the wonders all around that should keep us in awe. I so love "without seeing in a different light, I'd miss the sharp beauty....." So very true. That ability to see Beyond is what saves us, I think.
ReplyDeleteA dark sunshine here, Jennifer, of unalleviated beauty --- the feeling I leave with from your wonderful poem. From the first word rolling off our tongues (as the "Chuparosas sip") to the last light of the day and the "different light" of stars and the sweet sharpness of thorns, I feel the sacredness that the desert produces. As always, you make the corporeal so "real." Amazing poetry, Jennifer. Love it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wise write - we can certainly only see and feel light when there has been darkness - such beautiful imagery too - Jae
ReplyDelete"But I’ve long stopped wishing
ReplyDeletefor nothing blue."
In the magic of gold dust and sweet perfume and the cracking open of spring, there is still (always?) the thorn. A brilliant poem. Wow!
This is Susan.
DeleteThe "different light" helps us so much to accept everything with grace. Such a graceful poem, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteGreat use of colour in this poem, Jennifer, and I love the thought of the desert’s perfume ‘cracking open every new thing’ and the image of something blue ‘stitched darkly like threads around a once-golden sun’.
ReplyDeleteWhat an enchanting write. I love the flow and reflection of the natural around us, beautiful!
ReplyDelete'Without night, I’d miss the stars.
ReplyDeleteWithout the needle, there’d be no quilt.
Without seeing in a different light,
I’d miss the sharp beauty produced by thorns.'
Wow, Jennifer! This is poetry at its best. ❤️
Jennifer, the stunning clarity of your poem bowls me over. You wrote this just right.
ReplyDelete"'Without night, I’d miss the stars.
ReplyDeleteWithout the needle, there’d be no quilt.
Without seeing in a different light,
I’d miss the sharp beauty produced by thorns.'
Wow! Excellent poem, Jennifer!
So many beautiful lines to contemplate on.
ReplyDeleteWithout night, I’d miss the stars.
Oh, I would definitely miss the stars
Me, I'm more of the once bitten twice shy type, but I love reading a more forgiving view, especially in poetic form!
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous desert magic here, Jennifer gold dust, hummingbirds, and that thread of blue. And yes without the night, we’d miss the stars. Beautiful
ReplyDeleteVery gracefully done Jennifer 👏
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful piece, Jennifer. I love how you show the desert’s thorns as part of its sharp beauty, and how night brings the stars. Your words remind me that light and shadow always belong together.
ReplyDelete