the_dust_storm desert birdmad Invisibly, the heat spiraled upwards from the ground, but the birds riding these thermals were few and far between like thrill-seeking surfers waiting for a hurricane the nitrous scent of charged earth rising as the cool air shifted and traded places with the warm i stood staring at the sky, watching it rise out of the distance, the cloud of loose earth moving quickly out of the east the sheet metal from the neighbour's junkpile shifted and clattered the bough of an old tree broke and nearly fell on some kids at play down the street the headwind blew clean in it's approach, but the cloud followed close, the particles stinging against bare skin as the flew soon it was over, a momentary disturbance, the alarms from the truckyard down the way blaring a layer of dirt filming everything i could feel it against my teeth and on my lips as i went back inside 010513 what's it to you? who go blather from