The Well

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Title:     The Well
Author: Eunice Tietjens [More Titles by Tietjens]

The Second Well under Heaven lies at the foot of the
    Sacred Mountain.
Perhaps the well is sacred because it is clean; or perhaps
    it is clean because it is sacred.
I cannot tell.
At the bottom of the well are coppers and coins with
    square holes in them, thrown thither by devout
    hands. They gleam enticingly through the shallow
    water.
The people crowd about the well, leaning brown covetous
    faces above the coping as my copper falls
    slantwise to rest.
Perhaps it will bring me luck, who knows?
It is a very sacred well.
Or perhaps, when it is quite dark, someone who is
    hungry....
Then the luck will be his!
  The Village of the Mud Idols

[The end]
Eunice Tietjens's poem: Well

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