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74 What the Day Brings A woman bends at the well. She pulls A bucket from deep in the earth. Looks up As thin lions glide out of the dunes toward her. The village is on the edge of the desert. The water is a thousand feet down. The well is a thousand years old. Sand creeps into the houses. The crops grow smaller, the livestock fewer. The wind rattles the ribs of the sick in their beds. The woman lets the bucket fall. It takes ten long seconds to land— The splash makes one lion growl. Everything is frozen. The children playing Nearby are too frightened to run. Neighbors Stare out of windows, relieved to be inside. The lions charge. First slowly, Padding the dust, then quickly, Hungry for her . . . To one, this woman is mother. One Small girl picks up her stick, runs to the woman, Stand between her and the lions and sings. The lions stop. Consider the child. Listen To the ancient words piercing the air like Arrows aimed at targets still unborn. 75 The child sings. The lions sit in the dust. The neighbors stare out their windows. When night comes only the well remains. ...

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