UNTIL I DROWN

KETCHUM, IDAHO

SOUL

Nowhere left to hide.

A hundred little lives,
huddled in their momentary coats,
wearing all they'd ever own.

Funny thing about the rain.
It falls on the good and the wicked,
and doesn't much care which is which.

A little mercy.
A little warmth.
A dry place to lay our heads.

I reckon that's all most of us
ever really ask for.

If heaven has a door,
I doubt it's made of gold.

I think it looks like this:
a woman standing in the rain,
holding out her hand
until she drowns.

SPIRIT

KETCHUM, IDAHO — OCTOBER 2026

Each autumn, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival brings together the communities of Idaho's Wood River Valley to recognize a pastoral tradition that has shaped the region for generations.

The festival celebrates the history of sheep ranching, the seasonal movement of flocks, and the cultural heritage of the families and herders whose livelihoods have long depended upon the land.

Among its ceremonies is the Blessing of the Sheep.

In October 2026, Reverend Kathleen Bean stood before a gathered flock as rain fell across the valley. With one hand extended toward the animals, she offered a blessing.

The photograph records a brief moment in that ceremony: the reverend, the sheep, and the rain, each occupying the same small piece of ground.

The blessing continued despite the weather.