From “Four Scenes from a City”, by Ali al-Makk
Poem extract above from The Book of Khartoum, pXV
“Shapes become shadows as the desert smothers us in its sticky embrace” Sue Wallace-Shaddad
A City Waking Up
Streets deserted / early light hides the heat of day. / Pastel green houses dot the khaki landscape / scattered like fresh mint. / The roads still puddled with storm water from the previous night. / Queues of children wait for rickety amjad / to take them to school. /
In daily ritual / herdsmen gather for black tea / in chequered shade / their scrawny sheep / destined to be killed / for celebratory events. / By the roadside / sacks of onions and charcoal / lean unsteadily, overfull / flatbread pyramids of cucumber / tomatoes ready to be sold. /
Soon the sun overwhelms this fragile cool. / The city stirs / And minarets call to prayer
Sue Wallace-Shaddad
A City Waking Up – Listen to Sue Wallace-Shaddad reciting three Khartoum poems
Please do not reproduce any photographs where people’s faces are clearly visible in this blog without my written permission.
Lois Read, 2012
Poetry extract above, from Sand in My Eyes, Sudanese Moments by Enikö Nagy
Sudanese Moments Khartoum Collage Khartoum Scenes
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