consumes fear. It leaves eyes sparkling bright. Scared birds, hiding in corners, how you were caught is an old tale, a practice as ancient as time. But we who used to hunt snared ourselves. We ruled the world but became slaves. We have ourselves cut our tongues, and now, cloaked in public approval, prostrate ourselves, sing hymns of joy. I FEEL IN MY BONES My mother moved, like the earth, slowly, very slowly, imperceptibly. My mother cut, like water, through rocks of grief, drop after drop after drop. My mother endured, like the moon, every phase of pain, unfrown ing, dauntless. My mother melted away, like a cloud, leaving everything unsaid. She watched day^colors pour from the sky. She watched night-dreams go soaring high. Her palms could hold a kilo of golden wheat. Her arms could ring our manly bodies. 76