The New Year

It's just around sunset on a crisp New Years Eve

When the rancher climbs down from his horse

Down below he can see the fine ranch house they’d built

And the kids built a snowman of course

He sits down on a stump at the top of the hill

And fiddles around with his knife

He smiles at his luck and mourns some old losses

And reflects on his family and life

He thinks of the old year and the new one just starting

And who knows what this one will bring

The price of beef’s dropping, the economy’s bad

He just hopes things improve in the Spring

It’s been quite a struggle, getting this place on track

There were surely some hard times and tears

He came back from the war and his wife hardly knew him

Most his wounds have been healed by the years

He went into town and he voted this fall

The Republican lost the race though

He isn’t too thrilled with the incoming man

Just not sure where this country will go

He worries about how they might make ends meet

Sacrifices are coming for sure

Got to hold things together and just persevere

Got to keep things real simple and pure

He’s faced many tough trials in his time here on earth

And it looks like there’s more yet to come

With Gods grace he’ll keep fighting and keep his head high

No matter from where threats may come

“No one said things were easy”, he says soft to himself

And up in the saddle he climbs

And he looked at the words that he’d carved in that stump

“Happy New Year 1889”