This is the time of year when you see desert millipedes out and about on muggy overcast days. Sometimes even crossing the two lane blacktop roads near my home. When that occurs I invariably will see several millipedes crossing the road in the same area, causing me to wonder why we don’t have millipede crossing signs along the highway. At least seasonally like the “ice on bridge” of “watch for water” signs. And I think we could agree that a “Millipede Crossing” sign with the silhouette of a millipede would be an excellent sign. But yes, I know it’s not likely that a millipede crossing sign will ever happen. Honestly if I had my way there would be crossing signs for every wild creature found in the borderlands.

The poem was originally my contribution to  a poetic inventory of the Saguaro National Monument East done in 2012. The photos are mine.