Poetic Asides’ prompt is “select a city.”
Simi
drove all night
returned to that place
Grandma called, “God-forsaken”
my childhood wrapped in
the valley, Simi
orange blossoms perfume
early morning
we walk in the dry arroyo
a tumble weed rolls past
“chjjj chjjj chjjj” calls mockingbird
how could this be forsaken?
my childhood wrapped in
the valley, Simi
Jone Rush MacCulloch 
very good!!
Love this poem. Orange blossoms!
Hope your cough is better. I have had the same thing the past 3 weeks. Still coughing.
Whatever desert place this is, you took me there with just a few phrases and images! I, too, grew up in a place many call barren and ugly, but by living there, I learned to see its beauty.