Thanks to Cafe Tissardmine,
a writers retreat and artistic sanctuary in Moroccan Sahara.
Erg Cheddi
MORE photos in my Facebook album: Morocco
Twelve Day Writers Journey at Cafe Tissardmine with Jan Cornall, January 2104
Thanks to Colleen Cassar of Roam like Queens for the connection 🙂
ERACHIDIA
In Erachidia I said
Photo by Christine Colton
Hassan, there are no women here!
Hassan replied,
It’s hot. The ladies maybe melt if they come out.
Softly spoke, his voice held pride
That ladies of his tribe
Are sensitive and worthy of protection.
Are not required to hit the street,
To meet the harsh demanding light,
like this one, melting to a new perception.
***
This desert is a feat of heat and wind.
People stay inside their tiny boxes on the rock
And do whatever they can find to do.
Weaving, sweeping, music, watching TV from Algeria.
So nobody will think it strange this lady,
blown in with her different skin,
is reading, writing, here behind the walls.
Cocooned and taking stock.
***
The sky here sings with light this dawn.
Glimpsing briefly, knowing all is well
I roll on back to sleep
to not responsible.
No action is required and life goes on.
SUGAR
And after travelling long hours through the dust,
I saw you jewelled sugar cube
charismatic white in this expanse of rust.
Crystalline; a fallen star
and travelled from how far
to be laid bare in this Moroccan bowl.
Delectable as hope, or trust;
so vulnerable to
just whoever fancied using you.
And though I don’t take sugar, thank you,
had to have you, suddenly, a lust,
sweet thing.
I placed you surreptitiously,
(but secretly so urgently)
into my tea.
You softened to your destiny.
And softened me to sudden tears
to see you fall and disappear.
gabebook 