From high day them outside,
done draw water from the depths of the cistern
in the belly of the house, the bucket rope singing
on the concrete edge. Out in the yard, the child and goat
are tethered under the cover of the Big Ole Tree,
one fraid of the machete and one fraid of the teacher ruler.
The child in the dirt making cakes that would go well with goat.
All the whole time, uncle sharpening he blade
and Teacher Tina readying hers for the next day.
[Published in ANMLY Issue 43, 2026]