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سقاء الماء | The Water Seller of Marrakech

by Yasmine Benali|2 min read|
"A traditional water seller discovers passion with a cultural preservationist documenting dying traditions."

سقاء الماء

The Water Seller of Marrakech


الفصل الأول | Chapter One

أَبِيعُ المَاءَ فِي سَاحَةِ جَامِعِ الفَنَّا.

I sell water in Jemaa el-Fna square.

آخِرُ السُّقَاةِ التَّقْلِيدِيِّينَ.

The last of the traditional water sellers.

جَاءَتْ بَاحِثَةٌ تُوَثِّقُ التُّرَاثَ.

A researcher came documenting heritage.


الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two

كَانَتْ فِي الأَرْبَعِينَ، مُهْتَمَّةً بِالتَّارِيخِ.

She was in her forties, interested in history.

"أَنْتَ آخِرُ مَنْ يَحْمِلُ هَذَا التُّرَاثَ."

"You are the last one carrying this heritage."

"التُّرَاثُ يَمُوتُ... مِثْلِي."

"Heritage is dying... like me."


الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three

صَوَّرَتْنِي وَوَثَّقَتْ عَمَلِي.

She filmed and documented my work.

"كَمْ سَنَةً تَعْمَلُ هَذَا؟"

"How many years have you done this?"

"أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً... مُنْذُ طُفُولَتِي."

"Forty years... since my childhood."


الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four

"هَلْ عَلَّمْتَ أَحَدًا؟"

"Have you taught anyone?"

"لَا أَحَدَ يُرِيدُ التَّعَلُّمَ."

"No one wants to learn."

"هَذَا مُحْزِنٌ..."

"That's sad..."


الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five

"الحُزْنُ رَفِيقِي مُنْذُ مَاتَتْ زَوْجَتِي."

"Sadness has been my companion since my wife died."

"آسِفَةٌ..."

"I'm sorry..."

"المَاءُ يُرَوِّي العَطَشَ لَكِنَّهُ لَا يُرَوِّي الوَحْدَةَ."

"Water quenches thirst but not loneliness."


الفصل السادس | Chapter Six

"رُبَّمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ الْمُسَاعَدَةَ."

"Perhaps I can help."

"كَيْفَ؟"

"How?"

"بِالاِسْتِمَاعِ... وَالصُّحْبَةِ."

"By listening... and companionship."


الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven

تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فِي بَيْتِي القَدِيمِ.

That night, in my old house.

"جَسَدُكَ قَوِيٌّ رَغْمَ السِّنِّ."

"Your body is strong despite your age."

"المَاءُ يُحَافِظُ عَلَى الحَيَاةِ."

"Water preserves life."


الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight

نَشَرَتْ فِيلْمًا وَثَائِقِيًّا عَنِّي.

She released a documentary about me.

"الآنَ العَالَمُ يَعْرِفُ تُرَاثَكَ."

"Now the world knows your heritage."

"وَأَنَا أَعْرِفُ قَلْبَكِ."

"And I know your heart."


الخاتمة | Conclusion

المَاءُ أَصْلُ الحَيَاةِ.

Water is the origin of life.

وَهِيَ أَعَادَتْ لِي الحَيَاةَ.

And she gave me back life.

قَطْرَةً قَطْرَةً، أَحْيَتْ قَلْبِي.

Drop by drop, she revived my heart.


من حكايات مراكش From the Tales of Marrakech

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