After rains water accumulates in the hollows of small closed valleys, and, evaporating, leaves hard dry levels of pure Desertness that get the local name of dry lakes.
"The Land Of Little Rain"
Mary Hunter Austin
And yet-and yet-is it not perhaps to satisfy expectation that one falls into the tragic key in writing of Desertness?
"The Land Of Little Rain"
Mary Hunter Austin
I, standing here between the glory and dark,- The glory of thy wrath projected forth From Eden's wall, the dark of our distress Which settles a step off in that drear world- Lift up to thee the hands from whence hath fallen Only creation's sceptre,-thanking thee That rather thou hast cast me out with her Than left me lorn of her in Paradise, With angel looks and angel songs around To show the absence of her eyes and voice, And make society full Desertness Without her use in comfort!
"The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Vol. I"
Elizabeth Barrett Browning