نقاش الخشب | The Woodcarver of Essaouira
"A thuya woodcarver discovers passion with an art dealer who comes seeking Moroccan treasures."
نقاش الخشب
The Woodcarver of Essaouira
الفصل الأول | Chapter One
أَنْقُشُ خَشَبَ الثُّوْيَا فِي الصُّوَيْرَةِ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً.
I have carved thuya wood in Essaouira for thirty years.
جَاءَتْ تَاجِرَةُ فُنُونٍ تَبْحَثُ عَنِ التُّحَفِ.
An art dealer came looking for treasures.
"أَبْحَثُ عَنْ قِطَعٍ اسْتِثْنَائِيَّةٍ."
"I'm looking for exceptional pieces."
الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two
كَانَتْ فِي الخَمْسِينَ، بِعُيُونٍ تَفْهَمُ الفَنَّ.
She was in her fifties, with eyes that understand art.
"رَائِحَةُ هَذَا الخَشَبِ سَاحِرَةٌ."
"The scent of this wood is enchanting."
"الثُّوْيَا لَا يَنْمُو إِلَّا هُنَا."
"Thuya only grows here."
الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three
أَرَيْتُهَا كَيْفَ أَنْقُشُ.
I showed her how I carve.
"كُلُّ قِطْعَةٍ تَأْخُذُ أَسَابِيعَ."
"Each piece takes weeks."
"الصَّبْرُ يَصْنَعُ الجَمَالَ."
"Patience makes beauty."
الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four
"عَلِّمْنِي..."
"Teach me..."
وَضَعْتُ الأَدَاةَ فِي يَدِهَا.
I put the tool in her hand.
وَقَفْتُ خَلْفَهَا أُوَجِّهُهَا.
I stood behind her guiding her.
الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five
"رَائِحَتُكَ كَالثُّوْيَا..." قَالَتْ.
"Your scent is like thuya..." she said.
"عِشْتُ مَعَ الخَشَبِ طُولَ حَيَاتِي."
"I lived with wood all my life."
"وَمَعَ النِّسَاءِ؟"
"And with women?"
الفصل السادس | Chapter Six
"زَوْجَتِي مَاتَتْ قَبْلَ خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً."
"My wife died fifteen years ago."
"وَلَمْ تَتَزَوَّجْ؟"
"And you didn't remarry?"
"الخَشَبُ لَا يَخُونُ."
"Wood doesn't betray."
الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven
تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فِي الوَرْشَةِ.
That night, in the workshop.
بَيْنَ رَائِحَةِ الثُّوْيَا وَصَوْتِ البَحْرِ.
Among the thuya scent and the sound of the sea.
"جَسَدُكِ أَنْعَمُ مِنْ أَيِّ خَشَبٍ."
"Your body is softer than any wood."
الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight
اِشْتَرَتِ المَجْمُوعَةَ كُلَّهَا.
She bought the entire collection.
"سَأَعُودُ لِأَرَى مَاذَا نَقَشْتَ لِي."
"I will return to see what you carved for me."
"أَنْقُشُ صُورَتَكِ فِي كُلِّ قِطْعَةٍ."
"I carve your image in every piece."
الخاتمة | Conclusion
الثُّوْيَا خَشَبٌ نَادِرٌ.
Thuya is rare wood.
وَحُبُّنَا نَادِرٌ كَالثُّوْيَا.
And our love is rare like thuya.
يَفُوحُ عِطْرُهُ مَعَ الزَّمَنِ.
Its fragrance grows with time.
من حكايات الصويرة From the Tales of Essaouira