Mud

by Ralph Malachowski

Doorways with claustrawork, interstices;
doors of a mosque, a primary school, a theatre, cafes,
become a marketplace.

Façades of monasteries, granaries,
adorned by parabolas of mud plaster.

Mud supporting a staircase,
creating vaults, in turn create a loggia.

In the white light, an alcove with bas-reliefs, ablutionaries;
pigeon towers, malkaf and dovecotes, colossi of Memnon.

Necropolis of mud beds designed to protect against scorpions,
Surrounded by sabras — connecting doorways with Israelis with prickly pears
on the path first to Nubia then Cairo.