The Thing about Dubai

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Fri, 24 Feb 2012
  • 2863 reads
22 comments
 

We browsed the souk;
a kaleidoscope of colours;
amber, saffron, patchouli
wafted on the wind
that blew your hair
that hid your face,
as did your beaded,
turquoise-blue dupatta.
We walked the shore
of the Persian Gulf;
the sands deserted...
but for goats roaming free
amongst the olive trees
that fringed the sea.

I took pictures of you –
taking pictures of them
on an afternoon,
brimful with Arabs,
Bedouins, bangles
and bindis, tamarind
and tangled talk, way
before tourists
with their insatiable
thirst for things to buy.
Before shopping malls
and seven-star hotels
had been invented.
That was the thing
about Dubai.

Certificate U
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Travel

Comments

Submitted by Highhat on
I bet it was a wonderful place then Tina- you describe it so well and your aliteration is spot on. My sister lives there now and it is nothing but skyscapers and shopping malls, no public transport-not my cup of tea. You made it all sound so colourful and exotic. ;)Pia

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
You're darned right it was, Pia. I was first there on business, in the late seventies, early eighties. And for the last time, in the early nineties. Even by then, it had changed beyond recognition, because of the invasion of those things your sister speaks of. A far cry from the days the hotel staff would rush out and shoo the camels off the lawn as they tucked into a nice breakfast of date-palm, and goats were the only competition for sun-loungers on the beach. I'm lucky though, I saw it at its best...fish-market and all, and boy, did that hum at around seven in the evening with temperatures in the low nineties farhenheit;-) Tina;-)

 

Submitted by Raventongue on
I love how this poem has an unspoken colour scheme, what with the set of scents (orange/yellow/brown amber, orangey-yellow saffron, brown patchouli), the sand and hints of red and gold (bindis, bangles). It gives the reader a great sense of place. Based on both this and "The Spinster Late of This Parish", you have a talent for making people feel a sense of loss across intellectual boundaries, whether those boundaries be that it's for someone else's loss or that the lost thing is something they never knew they had.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Much appreciate your words, Raventongue, and it's always satisfying, as you yourself would know, when folk pick up on the finer details. Tina;-)

 

Submitted by Raventongue on
Very true :)

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Many thanks for dropping by, Raventongue;-) Tina

 

Submitted by twoflowers on
I could almost see it the way you have described it here! :)

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
That's so good to know, twoflowers. It has changed some...but if you like unbroken sunshine, and shopping you may want to go there some day...bearing in mind the humidity is almost unbearable, and the camels really bad-tempered. Many thanks for your lovely comment;-) Tina

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on
Makes me want to sell my house and bugger off somewhere I can't speak the language

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
london calling...I like your style;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Daniel Saint-John on
Great poem but somehow sad, like loosing eden... Excelsior!
Excelsior!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Daniel. And yes, it is sad...very much 'like losing eden', as you so eloquently put it. Tina;-)

 

Submitted by Daniel Saint-John on
yup! Excelsior!
Excelsior!

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on
A wonderful description of a place, that probably will never be the same again Tina. You were so lucky to see Dubai at its best. Thankyou for sharing. Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thank you, Jenny. And yes, I do consider myself very lucky indeed. The only trouble being, the last time I was there in the early nineties, way back here in England, my father passed away, and so it also brings back rather poignant memories too. Hope you are having a peaceful weekend, Jenny and 'fighting fit' again;-) Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on
Yes I'm fine now Tina, thankyou so much for asking. You have a peaceful weekend too. Jenny.

 

Submitted by hilary west on
Wonderfully descriptive poem full of colour. Loved the 'tamarind and tangled talk' !

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Many thanks, hilary. Always good to hear from you;-) Tina

 

Submitted by seashore on
This is wonderful, Tina. My daughter has been a few times for work but this isn't the Dubai she knows obviously. It's still one of those places I'd love to visit despite all the changes. Loved all the descriptions.......`tangled talk' - a great phrase. Coral x

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
I hope you get there, one of these days, Coral. Certainly worth going, as not all of the emirates have been as changed as Dubai, and Abu Dahbi. If you get up into the hills, there is still some spectacular scenery...if a little fewer camels these days. Pleased you enjoyed and many thanks for telling me. Tina;-)x

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on
This is wonderful Tina, there are some lovely rhymes and the shape and wording feel absolutely right for the subject - a real pleasure, more than well done. :-)

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, fb. Pleased you thought so;-) Tina