Snow’s been melting too soon— <br />passing the Río Grande every day, I note <br />water level is high, <br />all flowing down river. <br />What happens <br />when I need to irrigate pastures <br />in summer <br />and there is no water? <br />Farmers get edgy. <br />Start cursing neighbors under their breath <br />for using too much water. <br />Crops stunted, <br />only one alfalfa cutting <br />instead of three, <br />no feed for cows, <br />no money to buy feed . . . <br />and then like it happened a few years ago, <br />Mr. Gonzales goes out <br />and you hear rifle shots blister <br />cold morning air, <br />and you know his cattle <br />are falling in snow, <br />dead. <br />At Coronado Center, biggest shopping mall <br />in New Mexico, I hear two suntanned ladies <br />praising our wonderful weather. I give them <br />a glance, throw my gloves <br />on the counter for the cashier, and wonder what <br />a farmer’s wife would tell them.<br /><br />Jimmy Santiago Baca<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/too-much-of-a-good-thing/
