Before the rising of the sun the blacksmith
started a fire in his forge, preparing for day,
and for the business to come, in sh’Allah!
One by one the merchants unloaded packs
carried by mules, horses, camels to the stalls.
Aleppo’s markets greeted the morning
Aleppo
As it filtered through the slatted ceilings
and spackled the dusty aisles with light.
The call to morning prayer alerted the soul
to invocations for peace, good luck and health,
for sustenance against hunger and thirst,
and for ease in passing to the other world.
Rolls of bright cloth were unfurled.
Amber, jewelry, perfume, nuts and spice
beckoned passersby with coins to spend.
As noon approached, the air grew thick
with smells of olive oil for frying bread,
mutton and beans, children played tag
and hide-and-seek among the wares,
begged their mothers for sweet dates
or frozen sharab, persimmons or apricots.
At noon the public baths were filled
with worshipers washing hands before prayers.
They shared news, anger and discouragement,
discussed the dread of yet another onslaught
from the legions of the Franj armed for war.
Why could Aleppo not defend itself?
Why should they not demand their local qadi
go to the higher-ups and report all routes
from Aleppo to the sea already under toll?
First the Rum from Greece overrunning
the north country. Now rumors on the wind
of Ma’arra and the Christian taste for human flesh!
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