Felucca to the Souq

Felucca, take me down the Nile

To leave the city for a while

Behind me, dusty, noisy streets

Where cart and van and horse compete

As sun beats down on man and beast

Provide my eyes with lesser feast

I need to visit times less fraught

Where life is simple, peace is sought

As river-water ebbs and flows

My mind is emptied, thoughts disposed

A meditative state adopted

Images and rhymes concocted

Reed beds, foliage, habitats

All lie within the Cataracts

Time goes by, the hour unmeasured

Life unhurried, moments treasured

Marsh and islets dot the river

Bouldered shallows to consider

Navigated with composure

Watched by heron, egret, plover

The boatman knows the rapids' course

And bends its will to tame its force

Sliding gently in to dock

Aside the sand and limestone rock

We follow now a dusty track

The boat and jetty at our back

'Tween palm trees and the farmers’ fields

Until the road, a village yields 

We pass the carts of sugar cane

With donkey haulers unrestrained

And make our way to quench our thirst

Received in welcome, uncoerced

Sweetened tea and peppers red

Are served with hot Egyptian bread

Then ears are drawn to lyre and flute

The music of the desert Souq

Rababa tempts, it's music sweet

And draws us down to market street

Where we are instantly consumed

By rainbow stalls and rich perfume

A sensual soup, the village souq

You buy your spices by the scoop

Smoked paprika, cardamom

Turmeric and gold saffron

Dried hibiscus, candied figs

Honeyed orange, marjoram sprigs

Colours vibrant - every hue

Ginger, nutmeg, cumin too

Then moving on, a linen dress

A leather bracelet, shawl of lace

Palm leaf basket, Nubian cap

All haggled for, then bought; gift-wrapped

And on the street the traffic bustles

Adding to the vibrant hustle

A motorbike with four astride

And camels offer taxi rides

So as the sun begins to set

Our minds are full, our needs all met

With tired feet we board our boat

And ease away to gently float

Downstream until we reach the city

Bold at night, yet bright and pretty

Just in time for 'call-to-prayer'

To give our thanks for being there