Yearning
It became her daily ritual now around sunset time to carry the
wooden ladder and walk the same distance every single day between the two far ends
of the fence; lingering especially at the upright corner made by two sides of
that infinite rectangle. Today, while she was carrying the heavy ladder, her
hands got so exhausted that the ladder almost fell off. She held her breath for
fear one of the resident women here would realize what she was doing.
She placed it on the ground for a while to rest her hands, and
then lifted it up again. She was continuously adjusting her long, wide cowl, while
marching on the uneven ground so she wouldn’t trip. She bore the cross
carefully on her shoulder, which weighed more than her own weight. She finally
lands the ladder, while her eyes were fixated on heaven.
The angle are narrowing with every step she mounts on the wooden
ladder, to a point where she is hardly visible anymore. She reaches out to the top
part of the metal bars of the gate, which were crowned with small crosses and lotus
shapes.
She climbs up to the last stair, spreads her eyes onto the spacious
landscape, while the sea breeze gently plays with her senses. Tender waves
throw themselves successively onto the arms of the rocks; finally her captivated
chest is free to release its inhales and exhales.
She looks at the heavens: The same scene repeats itself in front
of her to a point where she now knows it by heart, she knows the exact angle
that the sun likes to take on its trip to the north, she can hear the sound of
that fiery orb as it throws itself back, leaving behind a wide gradient circle of
orange, as if it is a hat made for the sky.
Just before that golden orb disappears, she knows what to expect.
It is that shepherd with the long black hair, and his woman next to him, accompanied
by some lambs, goats and serenity. She knows that now the woman will take her
seat beside her man, who always sits first. She can see her putting small bites
of food in his mouth, he giggles and pulls her arm; he wants her. She walks
away playfully, holds a goat and wipes her breast, putting some of her milk in
a small saucer, while the goat continues, undisturbed, her meal of grass. She
hands it over to him; he drinks with a tender thankful look in his eyes.
The sound of the sea loudens as the waves now hit the rocks harder
with the increasing breeze. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and
looks at the woman, who smiles back, while listening to the unsaid poems coming
out of his eyes. He runs after her, until they hide behind a huge purple rock, which
throws a big shade like it is a cave.
She felt as if the sea waves wanted to jump up and peak, feeling
disappointed that they can only throw themselves in the arms of the solid rocks,
framing the abandoned coast.
She held her head up trying to see them behind their shield, while
still hanging from that wooden ladder. She almost lost her balance, when the
sun rays hit her eyes. Even when it is leaving, the sun has all these glittery
glamorous rays surrounding it.
She saw the small flocks of birds approaching her. White, brown
and colorful birds, the size of a palm, not more, all flapping in childish
playfulness, looking for some well-deserved rest, after a long journey back
home. They form circles around her, approaching her, then flying away
gradually. She leaned her body onto the fence.
Suddenly, she saw the brightening eyes of an eagle that has been
hovering around her for some time now. He was moving his head right and left as
if examining her. He hovered around her in repetitive circles; then landed
right next to her head. He looked right in her eyes and ensured she got the
message. She nodded.
She grabbed his strong leg, lifted her legs up and flew up in joyful
spiral circles. She felt the warmth infiltrating her veins, and looked down carefully
on the shepherd and his woman. She giggled childishly with her new voice, while
her whole body was twirling; her giggles echoed in the skies, although not loud
enough to hide the sound of her tears as they splashed the face of the sea
beneath her.
Written by: Nadia Shokry
Translated by: Myself
