During the days there was glare and heat and baking sand and the parched tongue hoping for good water.
But at night, when they made camp, and the chill spooled at their feet and the camels chewed their cud and the humans picked the last crumbs of quick bread off their lap and the blankets were unrolled and small sounds of conversation carried on the breeze; there was ease, and sweetened tea, and the slowing beats of hearts ready for sleep.
And the sky, a dome of diamonds, flowing over them, the old and young and man and beast, as in their dreams they sleep with the moon and swim in the waters soon to ripple under the sun to the east.
Prosery prompt: “In their dreams they sleep with the moon.”–From Mary Oliver, “Death at Wind River”
Na'ama Yehuda 
This was dreamily beautiful, my friend. So evocative, I was right there with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! So glad! It is such a lovely quote to work with! 🙂 Merril chose well! (not that it surprises me!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It truly was and so ironic, or maybe serendipitous, that AGAIN Merril seemed to provide the perfect phrase for what I was already working on…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m starting to wonder what kind of telepathy you two gals are sharing … 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I dunno. It is rather uncanny, isn’t it? 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Totally … 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lucy! Such a lovely choice of quote, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Na’ama Y’karah,
Atmospheric. I felt like I was there. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rochelle! 🙂 That quote had a mind of its own as to where it was gonna take me. I just lent my fingers for the typing … xoxo
LikeLike
🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for this beautiful poem. I enjoyed reading this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m so glad you did, and that you stopped to read and comment! 🙂
LikeLike
Simply gorgeous writing…thanks for taking us into this warm, exotic scene!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lynn! I’m so glad it was communicated! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! You took me with you, there, despite it’s a place I’ve never been. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woohoo! Thanks Crispina! 🙂 I’m so glad. The quote was so atmospheric, it took me there, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh gosh this is beyond beautiful! 💝 I agree, Merril does provide the most perfect phrase to weave prose with 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!! And, yay to having perfect phrases. Like in cooking, having the best ingredients matters! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yesssssss!! 😀 D
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
This is so dreamy and evocative. I feel like it’s an ancestral story passed down in genes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, thank you, Merril! I think that for the people of the desert, this may well be so! I’m so glad this resonated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was laughing at the exchange between you and Dale–but of course she knew that. 😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL!!! 🙂 Of course!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the description of the desert and rest through the night… so atmospheric
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bjorn … these days when so many of us are limited to traveling far in our minds, there is an added gratification if my words helped transport … 🙂
LikeLike