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AncientHippie
Member

since 2009-10-15

Posts 411
Surfing the Cosmic Flow

0 posted 2009-11-25 09:17 AM

The Corniche skirts
the bath-warm waters of the Gulf,
jewelled with elegant,
pristine office towers
that caress
a sere and scorching sky.

Mercedes and Lexus,
adorned with gold-plate trim,
sedately chauffeur
the descendants of the Bani Yas
through what, only a few decades past,
was a collection of tents
and mud huts
sprinkled across
the unforgiving sand.

At the Gold Souk
black-garbed women seek
golden adornment
that will remain hidden
beneath voluminous abbaya,
while their dark and canny eyes
flash through gold-threaded
full facial masks.

At the Sheridan,
a doorman folds back massive doors
that permit access
to yet another gold-plated Merc.
The occupant joins colleague
on an arrangement of embroidered cushions
on the marble floor
of the air-conditioned lobby.
A brazier of coals heats coffee
offered in traditional and ancient
desert hospitality.

Sparkling new pickup trucks
transport contemptuous dromedaries
whose racing skills will be tested
at the evening camel races.
To the south the hypnotic dunes
march relentlessly towards
the Rub al-Khali, the Empty Quarter,
where hides Uban,
the fabled lost city of Arabia,
beneath its timeless sands.

From the series, "Realms of Gold"

"We are stardust: we are golden: and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden." --Joni Mitchell "Woodstock"

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

1 posted 2009-11-25 06:15 PM

An interesting and descriptive write...James

Soul snatcher
Junior Member

since 2009-11-24

Posts 29

2 posted 2009-11-26 01:23 PM

Absolutely Abu Dhabi...

Mercedes and Lexus,
adorned with gold-plate trim,
sedately chauffeur
the descendants of the Bani Yas
through what, only a few decades past,
was a collection of tents
and mud huts
sprinkled across
the unforgiving sand.

These lines sums it all up..

Very well painted...

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

3 posted 2009-11-27 11:30 AM

quote:
A brazier of coals heats coffee
offered in traditional and ancient
desert hospitality.

In midst of all the ostentation of scintillating luxury some tradition survives. You render the contrast to what was and what is very powerfully. One thing has not changed yet ... the masked women, though they are covered with gold and diamonds, equality with men is still far away ...

I highly appreciated and enjoyed your view of the world of Abu Dhabi and surroundings.
Excellent write.

Love,
Margherita

AncientHippie
Member

since 2009-10-15

Posts 411
Surfing the Cosmic Flow

4 posted 2009-12-11 08:15 AM

Dear James, Soul, and Margherita:
I am so glad that you enjoyed my UAE view. It was a fascinating time for me, and was instrumental in clearing up a lot of my misconceptions about Islam and Arabic people.
Peace
Jim

"We are stardust: we are golden: and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden." --Joni Mitchell "Woodstock"

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