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The Sweet Brew At Chitakale

Posted by MD, USA on 6/7/2005 5:38:08 PM |

Written by: MD, USA


The old woman squats before a clay jar of thobwa


She uncovers the basket lid from the jar and


Stirs attention with a gourdful of the brew.



The customers have all been here: cyclists


In dripping sweat have deposited their coins


In the basket gulping down their share.



Pedestrians on various chores have talked


Before the exchange and then cooled their


Parched throats to their money's worth.



But this bus passenger bellows for a gourdful


From the window, drinks deliberately slowly until


The conductor presses the go-button -



The woman picks up the pieces of her broken


Gourd, and dusting her bottom, again squats


Confronting her brew with a borrowed cup.