This is a tale about the journey of a thought. Yesterday, as I stood at my kitchen sink I looked out the windows as I’ve done every day for the past eight years. My view has changed some during that time. A trendy mocha paint replaced the sugar pink on the house next door, a new privacy fence replaced a dilapidated one, and my neighbors removed the diseased walnut tree from their back yard last spring. Now, from my window I can see three sky-scraping palm trees in a yard two streets north.
Three in a faraway land
I’ve said hello to these trees for months now. I’ve watched them sway with the wind. I like the natural symmetry of three, and that from my perspective the middle one is the shortest and stands slightly closer to the tallest. But these trees never inspired my writer’s mind until yesterday.
As I waited for the water to run hot, I looked out the window and when the palms caught my eye, I heard a whisper, over there lies Marrakesh.
With that, the floodgates opened and my mind filled with sights and sounds and tastes: the crowds in the souk by day and the square by night; oranges, saffron, and mint; a plaintive wail—a call to prayer … a plea for help … a lover’s lament? I’m not quite sure, but I believe there’s a poem, a story, or even a novel coming forth.
Because in my soul lies Marrakesh.
That is really cool. I love to see how things ricochet around in a writer’s head. It’s fun, interesting and often unexpected.
This is no exception.
Thank you for sharing.
Is that what that sound in my head is?
Thank you, Darc.
I agree – really cool, indeed. (Beautiful, too. I love palm trees!) I also really like your inclusion of “oranges, saffron, and mint.” The word that comes to mind is evocative.
I like that word. It’s funny how something that’s a daily part of your life can suddenly inspire. I guess all of life is in the timing.
Marrakesh. I just like the sound of the word. I love that you like to write about different cultures. I can’t wait to hear what you come up with.
I can’t wait either.
lovely blog.
Thank you, Jessica. Where do your dreams lie at the moment?
What a great moment. Thanks for sharing it. I love those bursts of unexpected inspiration. And, I agree, the trees are intriguing. Great things come in three!
You’re welcome. I once wrote a post about the occurences of three. It always intrigues me.
What a great opening line: “…a tale about the journey of a thought.”
You think? Why can’t I come up with great opening lines for my fiction writing?
Hurry before they cut them down or a blight comes.Hurry before there is an earthquake in your mind or Marrakesh.
thanks for sharing your window view.
Thank you for stopping by. Even if they disappeared tomorrow, I’d still see them. The mind thing … well, who knows?
Funny, they look exactly like the three palms I see from my backyard. I wonder if we stare at the same ones.
Like opoetoo, I worry they will cut them down. I used to wake up to the view of tall pines. From my bedroom window that was all I could see. Then my next door neighbor married a golfer and cut them all down to make a golf course in their backyard. Now I just see blight.
Ha, maybe it’s a desert mirage!
I like that shot. Something about the fence and the rooftops in the foreground and the palm trees in the back… Can’t wait to hear what hatches for you.
Thanks. I had to cheat for that photo. I have screens on my windows, which really messed with the camera, so I had to go outside, set up the ladder, and hold the camera (my iPhone, actually) in front of the window. Then, yesterday near sunset, I almost did it again because the trees were glowing golden. Ha! I almost edited a photo in a blog post! I’m definitely obsessed.
“all aboard that train…..”
:0)
“Striped djellebas we can wear at home.” [Or in some cases a violet kaftan.
]
What a blessing to be able to discover your inner Marrakesh. I hope you get to visit it often and come away fulfilled!
I visit Marrakesh, or some other land, quite often because I tend to have a problem staying in the here and now.
[...] heartfelt, like a walk through my perfect day or my view of an Appalachian heaven or even a little glimpse of Marrakesh from my kitchen [...]