Cibola 16

Reader (2)

Tied in sacks they brought us, in the camel bags,
And they sold us in the wool market.
May God pardon them.

GNAWA FOLK SONG FROM MOROCCO
(translated by Paul Bowles)

*

Who of the desert has not spent his day riding at a mountain and never even
reaching its base? This is a land of illusions and thin air. The vision is so
cleared at times that the truth itself is deceptive.

JOHN VAN DYKE
The Desert: Further Studies in Natural Appearances

*

Where one mountain sits on top of another
we turn the basket upside down
and sing a holy song.

We are in great peace.
We are in great peace.

It is not true
but it will confuse our enemies,
and none can sing the dead back again.

RICHARD SHELTON
“Navajo Song”

*

The mountains move and fly away.

AL-QUR’AN 52:10
(translation by Ahmed Ali)

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