Introduction:

At the start of a unit on desert environments, read DIG WAIT LISTEN: A DESERT TOAD’S TALE by April Pulley Sayre. Then talk about how water brings life to the desert. Think of ways plants and animals can cope with small amounts of rain.

River Voice
By Pat Mora

In the desert, the river’s voice
is cool, in canyons,
the song of rock and hawk.

In the desert, the rio’s voice
is cool, in valleys,
the song of field and owl.

In the desert, the river’s voice
is cool, at dusk,
The song of star-gleam and moon.

In the desert, the rio’s voice
is cool, at dawn,
The song of wind and fresh light.

From:
Mora, Pat. 1996. CONFETTI: POEMS FOR CHILDREN. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN 1-880000-25-3

Extension:
This poem compares the river running through the desert to different sounds, to songs. Try to find comparisons that use the other four senses. Divide the class into four groups. Each group will be given a different sense: taste, touch, sight or smell. Ask the group to list items the river tastes like, feels like, looks like or smells like. The group should try to list at least one item for each person in the group. Then each child will get to create a word art picture. They will each take one of the words on their group’s list and put that word on drawing paper, so that it is part of the landscape.
Later read THE DESERT IS THEIRS by Byrd Baylor.

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