gloom is the color of her world
no joy alone with the sheep
as they graze within the herd
in a land of scant stimulation
and no human voices

a dog does his duty to protect the herd
keeping them in a tight group
all senses on alert for predators
it's a full-time job
with no time to entertain the human

she stands in the fields with head bowed
does not appear to be thanking God for her existence;
always at the mercy of harsh weather,
loneliness, abuse, ignorance, depravity,
mind-numbing repetition
her youth swallowed whole by her tiny world

of what does she dream?