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Death Valley

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One of the hottest places on earth is the Death valley national park in eastern California
Recent temperatures recorded there were 133°fh (56° C)
When the extreme heat from the ground meets cooler air it causes refraction which creates stunning mirages.

temperatures rise on the death valley landscape ~ shimmering mirage Written 17th August 2020 For Strand completely new (27) poetry contest Sponsored by Brian Strand.

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Paula Goldsmith

Date: 8/28/2020 9:36:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. Thanks for adding the write up and picture with your poem. Few words with much said. Enjoy your win and day..........................

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/28/2020 10:00:00 AM

Thank you very much Paula, im pleased that you enjoyed it. Hope you're well Tom

D.W. Rodgers

Date: 8/28/2020 6:07:00 AM

Sigh even here up north, temperatures are rising, ice is melting .......... Well said and congrats on your win

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/28/2020 7:08:00 AM

Thank you very much DW, im pleased you liked it. Tom

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/27/2020 1:00:00 PM

So happy that your "death valley" found life on the winners list, Tom! Congratulations. Our "heat wave" is over for now - things have returned to normal August warm. Stay cool you and our Paddy who always looks for shade! Over Fork Over!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/28/2020 12:30:00 AM

Haha thanks very much Sam, greetings from Wales, no fear of a heatwave here, its been pouring with rain, the fall is definitely coming, over fork over. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 8/20/2020 6:21:00 AM

Clever write Tom, and frightening temperatures - temperatures up in North Africa have been in the forties, I wonder what will happen to us in South Africa as the temperatures this winter have varied from -2 to 26 degrees. Well penned Tom - good luck. Blessings, Jennifer.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/20/2020 11:59:00 AM

Thank you Jennifer, when I was in Turkey the temps went up to 40c, I was struggling, luckily the air con was good in our car. Tom

Silent One

Date: 8/19/2020 12:55:00 PM

I heard that it's the hottest place in the world ..It's really weird, but I've been hearing about death valley through many different channels.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/19/2020 1:27:00 PM

Thank you S. O. Last week they recorded the hottest temp since I think 1913 so it made the headlines, they say you can crack an egg on the side of the road and it will cook in no time lol. Tom

Joanna Daniel

Date: 8/19/2020 12:41:00 AM

Wonderful haiku with the right imagery, Tom, no wonder it's called the Death Valley...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/19/2020 12:56:00 AM

Thank you very much Jo, dont think I'd cope with those kind of temperatures. Tom

Jenish Somadas

Date: 8/17/2020 11:51:00 PM

shimmering mirage.. Wonderful imagery.. Good luck Tom..

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/18/2020 12:47:00 AM

Thank you very much Jenish, it was one if the early pioneers that gave it its name because they nearly died there from heat exhaustion. Tom

Michael Tor

Date: 8/17/2020 6:35:00 PM

Wow I shouldnt complain when its 90 degrees and humid. Thanks for posting Tom...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/18/2020 12:44:00 AM

Thank you very much Michael, its so dry there with so little rainfall, about two inches a year. Tom

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/17/2020 4:33:00 PM

I can picture it perfectly, Tom! We have had a "heat wave" for the last few days. Many people don't like the heat - I have loved it! I finally feel like we have had summer! Love the concept of the mirage - on many levels. Best of luck in the contest. Over Fork Over!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 5:48:00 PM

Thank you very much Sam, I like a bit of heat but too much is unbearable, im built for the cold lol Over Fork Over Tom

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 8/17/2020 3:49:00 PM

I try to imagine this temperature and I feel grateful that I cannot. The hottest temperature I have experienced was 114 degrees and it was unbearable. A nice tribute to what is happening.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 5:46:00 PM

Thank you Caren, anything above 40c I struggle. Tom

Jenna Logan

Date: 8/17/2020 3:44:00 PM

wow Tom, you've written a hot and steamy subject for your Haiku. lol Love it.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 5:45:00 PM

It was Panagiota that inspired me, she's cooking in those extreme temperatures in California. Tom

Panagiota Romios

Date: 8/17/2020 2:46:00 PM

111 here in my part of CA is evil enough Great piem for Tania's Contesf, Pangie xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 2:50:00 PM

Thank you Panagiota, phew, I don't know how you cope in that extreme heat Tom

Paul Callus

Date: 8/17/2020 2:30:00 PM

Wow...I would probably melt in such temperatures, Tom! Here in Malta we grumble cos we're experiencing temps in the 90s F; luckily we live close to the sea, so a daily swim is something I look forward to daily. Regards // paul

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 2:49:00 PM

Thank you Paul, me too, I'd fry and die lol Tom

Catie Lindsey

Date: 8/17/2020 2:26:00 PM

Lol, sorry Tom, I just posted a short poem with the same title. I'm sorry, I didn't know. Yours is better. Hugs, Catie :-)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 2:48:00 PM

Thank you Catie, no apology needed, great minds think alike. Tom

Jan Allison

Date: 8/17/2020 2:17:00 PM

I read of this today - what a wonderful poem to go with the pic - am SO thankful we don't get such extreme heat here!:-) hugs jan xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2020 2:23:00 PM

Thank you Jan, I like a bit of sunshine but 56c I couldn't cope. Tom