At the dawn of years was the Sky
torn apart by Time’s wrath
before there were words to narrate
Listen…
There lies the dreamer’s frontier. Reason itself breaks upon its foot.
Reason cannot speak of dreams. It knows not the song in the soul of stone.
We call it ‘Akal n’iba’, the land as far as the eye can see. The land around the Skyward Fault.
As far as the eye can see the line of the horizon stretches over the great plains of the desert.
As far as the eye can see the caravan penetrates its grim mystery, frightening novices and strangers.
As far as the eye can see the nomads wander this land, seemingly as hostile and mournful as death.
As far as the eye can see and at an endless distance the wind carries time back to the embrace of the dune-dotted hills, together with the finest sand.
As far as the eye can see the branches of an acacia with gold-tipped thorns rise before travelers like swordpoints, as mice scurry to play amidst the sheep droppings.
As far as the eye can see time ceases to exist, leaving only the mystery of oblivion. It has sung the sleeping hymn ever since the dawn of night, lost in the mirage of long-drowned seas.
As far as the eye can see whirlwinds rise into the sky like a message from the hostile ground to the air where gazes linger, waiting for the rain to bring life to dormant flowers and beasts.
As far as the eye can see time rides the wind towards the peaks of horizon, cradling the hope for better days.
As far as the eye can see thirst and hunger open their doors to new recruits, their death sentence already signed.
As far as the eye can see time drips away, swallowed by the darkness of a night that never changes.
As far as the eye can see Neolithic man has charted his route before the boundless ocean. ‘Akal n’iba’ stands between two worlds, the world of yesterday and the world of tomorrow. Neither is certain, one is past and the other still waits.
Poem by Souéloum Diagho the Nomad
