(alias
 (name print-contents-of-dir-that-is-later-created)
 (deps contents-of-dir-that-is-later-created (universe))
 (action (echo "%{read:contents-of-dir-that-is-later-created}")))

(rule
 (targets contents-of-dir-that-is-later-created)
 (deps    (glob_files dir-that-is-later-created/*.txt))
 (action
  (with-stdout-to contents-of-dir-that-is-later-created
   (system "(printf 'listing: '; ls dir-that-is-later-created 2>/dev/null) || echo 'ERROR'"))))