the water of...

When I was young,

we used to have fairy tales read to us--

as many children do.

In several Russian fairy tales,

the hero first rushed headlong

at the obstacle in his way

and was chopped into pieces

and left for dead.

But the animals he had befriended

would bring him back:

one flying to fetch

the water of death,

another flying to find

the water of life.

The water of death

sprinkled over the pieces

brought his body back together;

the water of life

revived his spirit.

And then, of course,

wiser to the ways of his foe,

he would try again

and win.