Memoir Al-Arab : The Souq
A reminiscent journey through the Arabian Marketplace
Happiness and nostalgia strike, excitement and regret fight, memories gush in as culture fades out into the modern abyss. Mixed emotions take control of the narrator as he walks through the traditional streets of the Arabian Souq — a hidden treasure of Arabian culture in the modern world.
The salty tang of the lapping sea,
The musty odour of wholesale fish,
As I step into the Souq, instils in me the Arabian feel.
Patches of minuscule buildings between barren lands, cacti and palm trees,
Once ruled by mighty eagles, cats and doves,
Have grown to touch the sky amidst expressways and cities,
Living proof of metamorphosis — I wonder!
The fresh aroma of the Qawah coffee from a corner,
Takes me back to the family rendezvous in the weekends,
With men and women, segregated by rule,
But bound by love, for family and friends,
Who, on their travels, resting in our living rooms, relished the kindness,
Of a cup of coffee served in a Dallah, with an elder,
How I wish my children grew up here!
The enigmatic Arabian Architecture -
Its sensational adherence to the science of the past —
Or its revered preservation in the pace of the present;
What fascinates me more, I wonder!
As I stride through the impossible maze-like streets,
Packed, no inches to spare, with shops to fulfill every need,
In the dull muddy background.
Wonder-stricken at the all-encompassing Souq,
Now a home to the gaping citizens of the World,
Whose streets were adorned by the traditionally clad Arabs,
Now a rare sight, reserved for the luckiest,
Air, conditioned by nature, once filled its lanes,
Now stifled by the machines, earlier a luxury,
Progress has set foot. Really? I wonder!
Walking past an outlet selling Tajine,
An antique style of pottery, well-sustained,
Waves of nostalgia wash me from those days —
When I relished the flavorful Arabian stew,
The mouth-watering Falafel, sweet Bakhalawa,
My unfailing grandma made every morning.
How I wish I could go back to the past!
Heart-touching notes of the soulful Azaan,
Or the mesmerising scent of the extraordinary Oudh,
Unmatched beauty of the exquisite culture,
Or the shrewd insights of the unparalleled language,
Delightful wholeness of a complete family,
Or the sincere feel of undying patriotism,
What have I given back to my children?
Lucrative career, luxurious life,
Ever-spreading westernization, flourishing globalization
Have the eyes tied, logic knotted,
Of not just me, but generations to come, my entire lineage,
Lost in the deceitful promises of the modern world,
Away from the Arabian Odyssey, where truth reigns.
How I wish the storm to sail and my culture to prevail!
This poem was written in collaboration with Divya S
