desert’s secret

There’s a place 
at the end of a long, dirt road
where white sand twists
around black, spiral stones.
An unforgiving sun
grins at the curious,
wish makers and seekers.
It knew they would come
if someone gave the place a secret,
a desert mystery,
maybe sacred, maybe crazy.
Distant blue hills beckon
from across coral waters -
visitors walk in circles
hold hands, take deep breaths,
laugh as they raise both arms to the sky,
laugh as they misstep,
within an enchanted lake.

It sounds like make believe,
but I promise it’s real,
a dream I’ll keep forever -
the day I learned
water could be the color of roses
and you’d always be the magic.