Posted: April 16, 2008     Author: Cecil Garland

A CALVING-TIME LAMENT

It's never very easy for me
To rise and dress at A.M. 3.

I go to see if all is well
To know- only my eyes can tell.

I'm soon embraced with the cold night air
Then startled awake by the moon's neon glare.

The mountain is a stark brilliant white
Ridges and canyons etched in dark and light.

Perhaps a special gift from Thee
To foolish ones who rise at A.M. 3.

I hear the rapid slap of little, wet ears
And then an impatient snort, and the nose is cleared.

A new mom hums her soft lullaby,
"Get up! Get up! You've got to try."

She softly moos to her brand new one,
"Be dry and full by the morning sun."

I hear a greedy suck and slurp
And mom stands placid with a faint little smirk.

Many times I've watched life begin
It is the first step toward the end.

And now for a true pleasure in life
To warm myself while I freeze my wife.

When the water is gone, this way of life will be gone with the wind and the dust.

-- CECIL GARLAND
RAFTER LAZY C RANCH
SNAKE VALLEY, UTAH

Note: Snake Valley is targeted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority for export of 50,000 acre-feet of its ground water annually to support growth in Las Vegas. Ranchers and residents from both the Nevada and Utah portions of Snake Valley are opposed to the SNWA plan which will destroy their livelihoods.