Death Valley: What is the reason?

Moon, I come so far 

to be dazzled 

        but not by you. 

I come for the Milky Way,

for its points of light 

      sprayed across the sky.

But your ancient mask glows 

wide its tranquil mist 

over rocky hills, 

    these salty flats of

Death Valley--the darkest place 

on earth except on

nights when you

illuminate all--

even the atmosphere, 

     even the solitude.

In your light I feel this earth--

its vastness, its great unknown, 

all its ancient dust blown

on these battered stones.

     But not a reason for it.