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Translation of Abderahim´s Poem
I start my speech in the name of Allah – the best speech of them all. Written for every traveller about the beautiful city of the smiling people – the glamorous red city of Marrakech. Known for its sunset and its lined up palm trees. It was the capital of Youssef Ben Tashfin and harbour for all kings. The most enjoyable I can describe is its crowded square. Everything a traveller might seek for is found in this place. You – listener – pursue carefully what I've to tell – about a square called Djemâa El Fna. From its visitors I wish that they fall in love with it and its surrounding terraces. It's like a painting drawn by an artist – strokes out of Allah's hand. Crowded with all kinds of people, its halqas look like swimming pancakes in oil. Surrounded by juice vendors, like a diamond in a crown. The food vendors present their delicacies under the sheltering sky. In the whole world, you'll find nothing alike. Follow me on a round trip through the halqas that I start with the Gnawa. Animated from the sound of the Tara and Sentir, they right up in the sky. You'll also come across the halqa of monkeys, following every order of their masters. There's Essaoui Rahal, hypnotising the snakes with the sounds of his Rita. There's the halqa of Majdoub, called Al Majoub. And there's the skinny one, walking bare feet on pieces of glass. Then there's the halqa of Cherkaoui with pigeons and water pipe. May Allah be merciful tonight with his friend Al Mati. Rama's sons dancing on flipped metal barrels. There's also the halqa of Al-Haouziah playing beautiful sounds, as well as the Fkih from Souss explaining the Koran. And there's Tarb Ayyad. He's talking about the grave, that he has been drawing on the floor. People are shivering as they listen his speech. Al Haj Sbahi is giving out talismans and swears by their effect. Then there's also Miloud Shiadmi, looking over his shoulder covered by his long hair. Then the Talba Ben Ifu. With their umbrellas they build a row one next to the other. Dear Listener – if you're tired from your round trip, come along and relax in the boxers halqa or Taimomi´s called "7 colours" as well as the magicians halqa or the storytellers of "thousand and one nights" or the story of "Azaliah". You can also find the halqa of El Meddah, El Miziah or Bakshish or the comedy between the Arab and the Berber, You'll find herbs against certain sicknesses and Berber-Halqas with poetic verses. There's the halqa of Hamad and Moussa, fascinating acrobatic performances. Watch out for the freaks moving between the halqas. They even manage to suck a fly's blood. "Big Mjid" is one of them, disliked by all believers. One called "The Sleeper", "The Worm", whose head looks like a concrete street. There's also Abd Al Kadr Al Missa. If you – dear listener – are tired from the round trip, stick your nose in the smoke, reminding you at a restaurant, then you'll only need to say one word. Everything you like is there on this square. There are sausages, tahina, grilled chicken, lamb shoulder and steamed lamb heads. You'll also discover Harira-soup with dates, beans, lentils, slices of meat at Baolo´s and soaked bread in sauce. There are also sweets such as Shaban and Kuluban, vendors of fries, escargots and spicy tea, stuffed sandwiches with eggs and potatoes, women drawing with henna and fortunetellers. Oh – what a square that is! You should go there at night. You'll see Backpor, porting a Djabador and Ba said with his tilted hat in the new market as well as Ben Lamakart walking by with his Tangia. This square is watched over by the Koutoubiah and guarded by the seven saints of the city. You've seen nothing of this world, if you haven't seen Djemâa El Fna, This poem is written by Aderahim Al-Azaliah......come on....applaud! I've described Djemâa El Fna for you and dare not to applaud?....Come on applaud again....Djemâa El Fna, the square of the arts.... |
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