Above the emptiness

A thin boy guided our camels across the sand -

We left the bedu camp -

There were barren hills, a single ancient tree -

We wore shemaghs, half masking our faces -

I stroked the coarse pelt of my camel's neck - 

Above the emptiness was the sky -

It was mid afternoon - 

The boy had dark sad eyes -

He turned to look at us, holding out his hand for small coins -

One hour's drive from Sharm el Sheikh 

February 2025