phoenix as fungus

my adult-life home town was named after a mythic bird who was periodically conflagationally consumed and then was reborn from ash

but a spreading fungus is a more apt comparator

aerial maps over time show urban development filling topographical nooks and cartological crannies

and photos over time of camelback mountain taken from east of 40th street and south of camelback road show expensive houses climbing the mountain like lurch-stepped hikers

.

climate change has amped the furnace roar of this Infernal paradise

and entrickled the cascade of Verde salt and Colorado rivers

and new residents migrating from California to escape wildfires are just as thirsty as the rest of us

.

this is my home and my life

but i have moved before