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.