The feeling in the barn is so strong, perhaps because Maria has so much feeling. I was prepared to put the sheep out of her misery, or so I thought, but I don’t do that anymore because I have seen Maria work this magic again and again. She sat by the sheep with Red, talked to her. We could hear the fence charger ticking, the sound of the ewe’s breathing. How privileged I am to photograph the feeling of death.

We hide from it, shun it, dread it, but on the farm it finds us, again and again and teaches us to love our love, to take it seriously, not to waste it in fear and greed and anger.  I hear this message again and again. I heard it today. I felt it and photographed it. Animals are our teachers, in so many ways.