صانع البلغة | The Babouche Maker of Marrakech
"A traditional slipper maker discovers passion with a shoe designer who comes to learn ancient techniques."
صانع البلغة
The Babouche Maker of Marrakech
الفصل الأول | Chapter One
أَصْنَعُ البَلْغَةَ فِي مَرَّاكُشَ مُنْذُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً.
I have made babouche slippers in Marrakech for forty years.
جَاءَتْ مُصَمِّمَةُ أَحْذِيَةٍ تُرِيدُ التَّعَلُّمَ.
A shoe designer came wanting to learn.
"أُرِيدُ فَهْمَ سِرِّ البَلْغَةِ المَغْرِبِيَّةِ."
"I want to understand the secret of Moroccan babouches."
الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two
كَانَتْ فِي الخَمْسِينَ، أَنِيقَةً، شَغُوفَةً بِالأَحْذِيَةِ.
She was in her fifties, elegant, passionate about shoes.
"السِّرُّ فِي الجِلْدِ وَالغَرْزَةِ."
"The secret is in the leather and the stitch."
"عَلِّمْنِي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ."
"Teach me everything."
الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three
أَرَيْتُهَا كَيْفَ أَقْطَعُ الجِلْدَ.
I showed her how I cut leather.
"كُلُّ قِطْعَةٍ يَجِبُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثَالِيَّةً."
"Each piece must be perfect."
"مِثْلُ الحَيَاةِ."
"Like life."
الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four
"الحَيَاةُ لَيْسَتْ مِثَالِيَّةً." قُلْتُ.
"Life is not perfect." I said.
"لَكِنَّنَا نُحَاوِلُ."
"But we try."
"هَلْ حَيَاتُكِ مِثَالِيَّةٌ؟"
"Is your life perfect?"
الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five
"لَا... زَوْجِي تَرَكَنِي لِامْرَأَةٍ أَصْغَرَ."
"No... my husband left me for a younger woman."
"رَجُلٌ أَحْمَقُ."
"A foolish man."
"وَأَنْتَ؟"
"And you?"
الفصل السادس | Chapter Six
"أَرْمَلُ مُنْذُ عَشْرِ سَنَوَاتٍ."
"A widower for ten years."
"البَلْغَةُ رَفِيقَتِي."
"The babouche is my companion."
"رُبَّمَا تَحْتَاجُ رَفِيقَةً تَمْشِي بِهَا."
"Perhaps you need a companion to walk with."
الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven
تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فِي الوَرْشَةِ بَيْنَ البَلَاغِي.
That night, in the workshop among slippers.
"جَسَدُكِ نَاعِمٌ كَأَجْوَدِ جِلْدٍ."
"Your body is soft like the finest leather."
"وَأَنْتَ مَاهِرٌ كَأَحْسَنِ حِرَفِيٍّ."
"And you are skilled like the finest artisan."
الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight
صَنَعْتُ لَهَا بَلْغَةً خَاصَّةً.
I made her special babouches.
بِاسْمِهَا مَنْقُوشًا عَلَى الجِلْدِ.
With her name engraved on leather.
"هَذِهِ سَتَحْمِلُكِ إِلَيَّ دَائِمًا."
"These will carry you to me always."
الخاتمة | Conclusion
البَلْغَةُ تَحْمِلُ الأَقْدَامَ.
Babouches carry feet.
وَحُبُّنَا يَحْمِلُ قُلُوبَنَا.
And our love carries our hearts.
خُطْوَةً خُطْوَةً، نَمْشِي مَعًا.
Step by step, we walk together.
من حكايات مراكش From the Tales of Marrakech