Miles and miles of sand
with no horizon in view,
the caravan moves on -
in search of an oasis.
The heat is treacherous,
the sand is scorching,
the camels are tired
and so are the herdsmen.
The journey is long,
the day will almost be gone
and darkness will reign again
until another day dawns.
The desert’s dreadful distances,
the weather’s vicious whims,
the camels’ callous restlessness
all add to the herdsmen’s hardship.
Roadless tracks
of sand and rocks
where tall, wild cactuses abound
with many sand dunes around.
The Sahara -
a natural oven -
bakes humans and camels alike
leaving scattered mortal remains.
A sandy landscape
in shades of light fawn
with deceptive mirages
inviting thirst again.
The journey is long
with no sign of an oasis.
But the caravan must move on…
Inshallah – until we meet again.
Gita Ashok
9/10/2010, 3:15 pm