Donald M Riley

Ranching Is Hard Poetry: Collected Writings Donald M Riley

A selection of poetry, short stories and journal entries. The natural world played a powerful part in the life and writing of Tomales writer Don Riley. As a child in rural western New York, on Lake Erie, he roamed the countryside with brothers and friends, sampling the sun-warmed grapes and tomatoes growing in the fields, swimming in creeks, and bringing home the occasional creature. Later, after extended travel, Don moved to Northern Italy, the setting for two of his short stories. He fell in love with the joyful ease of the Italian way of life, and with the beauty of the countryside in the Friuli, where he lived. And with the people - hospitable, funny, welcoming, private. In the 1970s, Don and his family moved to Northern California, to the town of Tomales, pop. 500, where he was again surrounded by natural beauty. His writings describe his love of the place. He made friends in the ranching community, among the dairy, cattle and sheep ranchers. "Ranching is Hard Poetry" is written for them and about them.