Photos, by author.
Poetry
Days & Nights In Marrakesh
by VISHAVJIT SINGH
Medina of Marrakesh
The old fortified quarter
Became home
For five sultry summer days
Living in an unlocked room
Way down in the labyrinth of ancient alleys
Stray cats all over
Walls hugging each other
No need for wake up calls
Amid imam calls
Walked through souks
Day and night
Take a left, take a right
Pure directionless delight
Got lost many a times
Found new avenues everytime
Traders pitching all wares
Fondling shoppers with their stares
Spices, leather, silver, daggers
Apparently I was one with the swagger
Locals and tourists
Transfixed by my turban and flowy beard
Sang me old Bollywood ballads
Calling out countless names
Hindustani
Pakistani
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
India
Muslim
Jamaica
Shah Rukh Khan
Buddha
Punjabi
Balle Balle
But my favorite
Beckoned only once
In the last hours
Of the Moroccan trance
Fakir!
Marrakesh
I will be back