Alifa Rifaat's Short Stories of Women

I have just finished reading Distant View of a Minaret by Alifa Rifaat. It is a collection of 15 short stories about women. There are stories of love, death, fantasy, and frustrations of everyday life.  As I read, I felt as though I were one of the women who struggled to survive life.  Men's rules and selfish desires made it hard for women to live a fulfilling life, this is the focus of the author's stories. I felt that many of the women resigned themselves to how things were and patiently waited for death, hoping that their next life would somehow be better than the one where they reside currently. 

The story called, The Kite, was the most inspiring.  It begins with Widad, a widow, who has just risen from sleep to the voice of the Muezzin calling for morning prayers.  After her husband passed away, the chickens were her only companions in life, whom she knew each one and it's characteristics. She would have endless conversations with them.  When she was young, Widad loved a young man named Mitwalli.  He felt love for her as well, but Widad's father married her off to another man.  Years later they meet again.  Mitwalli still wanted her.  Widad was waiting for death.  During a dream Widad saw here life with Mitwalli and it was a good thing. She decided, Why not? Sometimes we are given second chances. This is not a new book but one from the 80's.  Stories are a good way of causing you and me to think about life.  It is a good thing.

Pigeons of Egypt

Here in America pigeons are considered dirty birds.  They hang out on roof tops leaving their droppings everywhere.  People have been enthralled with the pigeon since it was first domesticated, shortly after our other best friend the dog. Who would have thought that they could be so beautiful?  Did you know that the ancient Egyptians used them to carry information about the Nile's flood levels?  They were worshiped as ferility goddessess in Mesopotamia.   Pigeons delivered the first Olympics results in 776 BCE. I can go on and on about what they have done in history. 

But then there are the pigeons of Egypt.  Above is the Crested Frillback Pigeon.  Its feathers are twisted and turned round.

This is a black English Longface Tumbler

Egypt, too, has pigeon houses

This is a Englilsh Longface Tumbler

This is a Jacobin Pigeon.  Some people raise these birds as a hobby while others try to do it for a living.  I am including a video which I found fascinating.