The Wells of the Village

In every house in the village

There was a well.

Some had theirs more shallow,

Others reached into deep darkness.

We did not drink the water,

Nor did we use it in our food.

We only washed our feet with it,

And watered the courtyard.

In summer it was cool,

And we lowered the watermelons inside.

In winter it was lukewarm;

We watered the donkeys with it.

And some of them, as they say,

Even had leeches.

They were often used

To help young girls become more beautiful.

And those who were older,

And knew much more,

Used them as well

To drive away their rheumatism.

Like all the villagers,

We too had a well.

It was two meters wide,

And the water rose above our heads.

And as the three of us played

In a fine little rain,

Our mother suddenly came

And called out to Dimitroula:

“My Dimitroula, please,

Run quickly to the well —

Bring me a little water…”