In Egypt it is the donkey 
who wears the blindfold, 
a bright red scarf tied 
around his eyes as 
he walks in circles 
through the furnace 
of the day, yoked 
to the center post 
of the water wheel. 
Steadily, he lifts 
the Nile to thirsty 
melons and squash. 
The blindfold makes 
his life easier, 
the farmer explains: 
“He thinks he is going 
somewhere.”