From the peaks of red mountains I’ve seen lights across the desert.

Closing my eyes, I’d strain to hear the echo of ancient war drums.

My only reward was the sound of wind blowing across the valley floor.

Wind blowing the sand, making the lights far below twinkle like stars.

Dan Johnson was born in California and grew up in Illinois. Now retired, he spent over twenty years as a high school physics teacher and school administrator, who also loves writing poetry.