In Benjamin Alire Sáenz's To The Desert, the poet uses the image of the desert to represent God and a personal journey of his faith. The tone of this poem is adoration and worship. In line 1, Sáenz says, "I came to you one rainless August night," which captures the desolate stillness and darkness to find God. In line 2, the poet writes,"You taught me how to live without the rain" and it shows how much Sáenz highly respects God. In line 4, Sáenz says,"You are sand, wind, sun and burning sky, the hottest blue," expressing the images that describe the desert. It also describes "the hottest blue," which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In line 6, Sáenz says,"You reach¾then bend your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new. Like a black smith that molds his work, Sáenz describes God as bending him with all his force, breaking him, striking blows and burning him to make him anew. In line 10, Sáenz says,"Above, below, by you surrounded, I wake to you at dawn." It shows that he finds himself surrounded by the spirit of God that embraced him in the cold desert night which symbolizes his love for God. In lines 12 and 13, Sáenz says,"Reach, rise, blow, Sálvame, mi dios, Tragáme, mi tierra." Sáenz describes his total surrender and willingness to accept all the suffering that is necessary. In lines 13 and 14, Sáenz continues saying,"Salva, traga, Break me, I am bread. I will be the water for your thirst. The poet use of Spanish amplifies his desire to be saved. He cries out in his native language and surrendering his vulnerabilities. In line 14, the poet says, "I am bread and I will be the water for your thirst." The poet describes his union with God, like Christ in the Eucharist.
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