AWAKENING

I climbed to the
top of the hill
where the gazebo
overlooks the valley
to take a picture
of the billowing clouds
hanging over
the Saddleback
mountains
when I noticed a
thistle weed in
the view finder
and inched closer
to the subject...
anticipating
a perfect composition
I carefully aimed
the lens on
the purple
part of this prickly wonder
and stopped
in mid focus
to a familiar sound
of my youth
when my brothers and I
would scower the
canyons for pollywogs
and small tumbleweeds
until someone
yelled out..
RATTLE SNAKE!

this was
the best photo
I could manage
before I ran.