We meant to camp again the second night
the place we slept at first, and to that end
we parked and laid our bedding by the light
the truck provided, but what we intend
and our result seem seldom to agree,
for we’d no sooner got the fire set,
than it began to rain on him and me
and tentless desert camping got us wet.

My friend was quick to modify our nest:
He rolled the pads and wedged them under stuff,
and me, the bags, and pillows he compressed
and packed into the cab. He drove the rough
and lonely road to lower ground, and smiled,
while I felt safe and cozy as a child.