After six months of research and the first handful of poems, I sought out a place to live and write in Abiquiu, wanting to observe O’Keeffe’s later world firsthand. Finding the cabin in  Gallina Canyon–50 miles from the nearest town and five miles from the nearest neighbor–was a gift.

With no internet or phone, I sealed outgoing mail in a plastic bag and bound it to this post. The owner picked up as he rode his horse past, pushing cattle up the mesa.

To the west, the canyon opened and the riverbed grew wide.

I hiked there often to peer through the ruins of what was once a cabin.

Or to see this tower built by people of the Gallina tribe.

A hike up the southern wall to the mesa offered the best views west.

And, once, I even found these antlers shed from a buck.

But most of my time was spent reading and writing on the porch.

The view made it an especially good place to spend time.