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Tangiers

Wandering through labyrinths of the Grand Market,
I round a stall with baskets of figs and dates.
In the shade of its gently flapping canvas
a reptile sways its ringed length
to rhymes of a snake charmer’s flute.
Gems adorn his turban.
He’s one more desert nomad
lured to this bustle for a handful of foreign coins.

Ophidian light envelops the scene.
I'm ensnared by the oneness of man and serpent;
haunting strains of the instrument
and the man’s fathomless eyes enhance the interlude.
His serpent glows in languid stillness
as butterflies sip nectar nearby.
Swarms of peddlers hawk their wares.
The charmer sits cross-legged on a hand-woven mat,
counting his meager gains with fingers
grown patient by his nomadic life
trudging over sand dunes.
Swallowed by crowds of tourists,
I purchase a string of beads
before wandering off down pedestrian lanes.

Review Request (Intensity): 
I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

Dear Teddy, I visited Tangiers ages ago with my first husband. And yes, I was also thinking of that same song after I posted it. I'm so glad you like it and are always encouraging. Thanks for that, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

You're forgiven, all visits are welcome...lol.

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

Hi, Gracy,
You have brought together the noises and busyness of the Market area, and blended them with the peacefulness of the butterfly and the stillness of the charmer and the snake. A rich experience. Throughout the poem, it seems you are taking it all in, realizing this extraordinary moment for what it is, and then, almost lovingly, purchase a string of beads and calmly wander on. What a lovely memory.
Thank you!
L

Dear Lav, I'm glad you enjoy it. It's a true experience, I have some faded old photos of us there. I still have the beads! We had a bumpy bus ride to get to Tangiers, there were sheep, goats and enormous bags on the roof. We were the only foreigners. It was fun.
I do have loving memories of those days, you're so right. Thanks for visiting, it's always a pleasure. All the best, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

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Hello Jerry, yes, I like writing my experiences down in prose or FV poems. Perhaps I inherited the story telling from my mother, she always told us stories at night, before we drifted off to sleep. Thanks to her, I learned English without much effort.
I love your rhyming poems and sonnets, you know that. Keep safe, Gracy
BTW, my niece who had Covid is already cured and the family's quarantine is over. Nobody else caught it.

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

Dear Jerry and Lynda, thank you about the English, but most children learn any language easily if the parents speak it to them from when the babe is in the cradle. It comes naturally without need of grammatical structure or rules of any kind. First they learn by heart and then it all makes sense.
Yes, I look forward to hearing that you've published your book of sonnets. Hope it's soon. Will you have it as an e.book?
Yes, my niece has recovered and the family is out of quarantine.
All the best and forget the Grim Reaper...lol. Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

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Hi Jerry, you've made me laugh, once again. BTW, it's from the cradle one must speak any language to them. Sing lullabies, tell stories, etc. You don't think so, but the babe is already learning.
Fortunately, we had no parrot...lol, and obscenities were not spoken in my family. The worst would be godammit from my Dad and my mother would shush him!
I think that sending your sonnet book all the way to Argentine Patagonia will cost you a fortune and it may not arrive. That's why I wondered whether you'd have it as an e.book. I can easily buy e.books on Amazon. I can certainly PM my address to you, but I don't advise it. The PO is working half time due to pandemic.
Love your visiting and amusing me, all the best to Lynda and your goodself! Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

Hello Alan, we bought some leather cushions, the kind one sits on, can't remember the name of them. They were lovely, but didn't last long. We were all there, my first husband and two of my three children. It was a wonderful experience.
I don't think we visited the Christian Church, but it was so long ago that I can't remember.
We purchased woven rugs in the Grand Market at Istanbul.
My boys went to St. Andrew's school in Buenos Aires.
Thanks for visiting, always a pleasure to hear from you. Keep safe, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment

Hi Jerry, OK, I'll PM my address to you. Hope it arrives, as I said, it's a bit dicey with the pandemic on. But I did receive my renewed passport from Britain, so that's a good sign. Yes, I suppose poetry does not do well in e.books. For everything, they're fine and cheap.
Now you pay for the postage yourself, not Lynda, you old scrooge...lol.
All the best to both of you, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

author comment
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