An English rendering and reflection from the Arabic poem: ‘Al Hajar al-Sagheer’ by Ailia Abu Maazi.
English Rendering
Ailia Abu Maazi’s poem, in many ways, is like a great short story. He sets the scene, introduces the protagonist and then, just as the description seems to be carrying on, he ends it with a twist. It’s short yet lasting.
“As the starry night blanketed the luminous city, it heard a deep sigh. This was intriguing and caused it to turn it’s ear down, quietly searching for the sound. The city was asleep, like the seven sleepers of the cave. The seawall stood strong and the sea itself was calm, almost like a dessert.
The sigh had come from a small stone in the sea wall, that lamented about the blind turns of fate. As night listened, the stone went on:
What is my value in this existence ? I am nothing in it’s large context, not even as significant as dust. I am neither marble that maybe turned into a sculpture, nor am I a boulder that may become a building. I am not land, that may absorb water, nor am I water that may quench the flourishing gardens. I am not a precious stone for which beautiful women compete. I am neither a tear, nor an eye. I am neither a beauty spot nor a rosy cheek.
I am but a dusty, lowly stone. I have no beauty, or purpose, or use. I feel I might as well leave this existence peacefully. I have no interest in remaining.
With that, the stone left it’s place, complaining to the land, to the stars, to the night and to the sky.
Then dawn opened its eyes…. . Alas ! A sea-storm floods the luminous city “
Appreciation of the the poem
Abu Maazi draws our attention toward appreciating how each part of a larger organization, whether natural or man made, can hold crucial importance.
It’s somewhat unnerving how, in the poem, during the darkness, which is usually associated with fear and troubles, everything is in place and at peace, while the day, which we usually associate with a lifting of troubles as the light shines through, is when calamity strikes. This break in the usual expectation seems to say that this negligence, of the small but important, could be a grave mistake indeed. It suggests that the very place where solace is sought out, could be turned into a place of fear.
The author’s use of tense is also quite interesting. The story of the night and the stone’s monologue occur in the past, while the flooded city is the present situation from which the story is narrated. This is revealed in the unexpected change of tense at the end, from past to present. “Then dawn opened its eyes…. . Alas ! A sea storm floods the luminous city “
It seems that the value of many small things and people is only truly realised when it is too late.
The animation of the stone, while the people, who are usually animate, are asleep and in a sense inanimate at that time, sets an intriguing scene. It seems to convey the need for human beings to sit quietly and contemplate in order to hear the world and learn the lessons it holds. For during the day, when everyone’s about, the little stone’s voice may not be heard.
Ponderings
It may serve us well to observe these elements around us. Minor characters, who play key roles.
An office boy, who seems to be dispensable, yet quietly goes along doing his work and keeps things running. He serves tea and snacks during long meetings, when big decisions need to be made. He keeps the director’s office clean, so he may get straight to work when he arrives, and hold up his image in case of unexpected visitors.
A babysitter, who kindles the joy of reading in a child that may grow to be a writer, or a leader who leads with knowledge and compassion. Someone like that could change the course of a company, or even a country.
We may also see this introspectively. A hobby could be turned into our livelihood. A small act, done consistently, could hold great value. A skill we didn’t think much of, could be a key characteristic that let’s us shine. We may not see it in that way until our perspective is broadened and its use becomes apparent. So, we need to value ourselves and our unique abilities, despite moments of despair, in which we feel inadequate.
We can also see this as a call to perform those small acts. To carry out the seemingly mundane yet pivotal contributions to those around us. And other such things, that may go unseen and unappreciated, but are indeed valuable. Should we give them up, or value them less in our own hearts, because of how others see them ? I suppose not. We should continue to do them and feel at peace in the value that we add.
The poem could also be a reminder about the importance of expressing appreciation. As Dale Carnegie puts it:
“ We nourish the bodies of our children and friends and employees, but how seldom do we nourish their self esteem? We provide them with roast beef and potatoes to build energy, but we neglect to give them kind words of appreciation that would sing in their memories for years like the music of the morning stars.”
The seawall is made up of many stones, rocks and boulders. They may be of different sizes and placements, yet they are all important in keeping the sea at bay.