Egypt, Mother of the World

Woooooooooosh. That's the soft and gentle sound of the winds of change blowing through my life. Yes, things are progressing and I am changing. We applied for my Mom's passport last week. We should have it in two weeks time from the date of application. I have also heard back from the US Attorney's office who has the DEA agent-in-charge looking for the title to my car. Our sale today went much better than last week's sale, and we still have another sale day tomorrow. Things are, alhamdulilah, definitely looking up. I might even, insha Allah, be out of here sooner than I planned. We will see. I keep saying alhamdulilah for everything. I feel Allah working miracles in my life. Subhannah Allah.

More important than what's going on around me, is what's going on inside me. Actually moving to Egypt and living there for the rest of my life is starting to sink in. While it is dark and gloomy today, with an ice storm this morning and lots of snow to come, I see the Egyptian sun shining in my mind--and feel it in my heart. It's actually very warm over there these days, and I am emotionally so far removed from the cold here. So far removed from many feelings that I identify with life here in the USA.

I am going home. It might be hard for someone to understand that a person who was born and raised in one country can consider another country home, but I do. And believe it or not, there are many others like me. There is an Egyptian proverb...One who drinks from the Nile must return. Many of us know that to be true. For us, Egypt has become our true homeland. I cant even begin to explain it, or expect anyone who hasn't felt it to understand it, but the fact is I am returning to the place where my soul belongs.

I wrote the following poem a few years ago about a small town called Raas Al Bur. This is where the Nile River feeds into the Mediterranean Sea. It is mostly an inexpensive resort town, with many seasonal rental apartments and cottages. It's a quiet, unhurried, peaceful place. I love it--hence the poem. But in fact, this work describes the feelings that are welling up inside of me right now. Remembering that there is a place on this earth I am completely attached to, a place where I belong as surely as if I was born there. I am immersed in it, engulfed by it and cradled within its embrace. Egypt, Mother of the World. I love you.

In This Small Town by the Sea

In this small town by the sea
My heart finds joy
Peace and contentment…
But more than this,
It finds a safe haven
In which to recline,
And become all
That it was ever
Meant to be.

Perhaps the joy
And other sentiments
Are not apart
From this protection,
But rather because of it,
For this heart
Has never rested
Unless it was secure.

In this small town by the sea,
This heart is safe
By day and night,
And night is most important…
For I can walk alone
In the dark
Beside the water,
With no fear of attack-
Neither from outside forces
Nor the ghosts
Who reside within.

I am comforted
By the quiet of the night,
Eyes looking upward
Into indigo skies
Gazing at silver stars
That dance in brilliant splendor.
And the quiet reflection of
The full moon on
Calm currents reminds me
I have left a candle
Burning in my window.

And I turn back towards home-
My sanctuary, and again
I am moved by the
Warmth of the candle’s glow,
Reminded that, secure I am at last…
In this small town by the sea.

MY BEAUTIFUL HOMELAND...SUNG BY DALIDA