my tiny window of branding season.

your eyes on the mountains.

the blur of green beneath them stretching towards you.

the land is large.

& beneath this huge sky there's a dot of activity. ropes swinging.

branding smoke.

big hats.

hours of doing what I love.

all week my life was filled with this.

ropes swinging.

dust in my eyes.

ropes swinging.

& now this is my last calf.

a tear slips down, making a trail through the dust.

I pop my dallys.

& I am done for the year.

hugs to the cowboy friends.

hugs to swinging ropes & fishburn ranch.

I love you.