"Calving Time" by Paul Harwitz

"Calving Time"

Copyright 1996

by

Paul Harwitz

October 23 & 24, 1996

Calving time again at the ranch has come 'round .

There's mooing and bawling and every other kind of sound.

It's raucous and busy and it's got a lot to annoy us,

And it's holy and it's messy and it's gosh-durn joyous.

There's smack brand-new life just about everywhere.

We're worried and harried but we don't much care,

'Cause the promise renews itself like an oft-repeated prayer.

Cows do what comes naturally, and we take it from there.

There's so much to think of, and so much to do,

I don't know how we'll ever get through.

It's the same every year, yet it's always different somehow.

The only kind of wealth we've got is the land, the horse, and the cow.

Each cow is different, but somehow the same,

And each year it's the same ancient story again.

It's like tending wild animals that are sort of tame.

It always amazes me to re-witness life's wheel-like game.