Far from Home
I’m just a little homesick today. Mostly, for palm trees—and that sensation of being exactly where I belong that I get only when I am home.
A palm tree stands in the middle of Rusafa,
Born in the West, far from the land of palms.
I said to it: How like me you are, far away and in exile,
In long separation from family and friends.
You have sprung from soil in which you are a stranger;
And I, like you, am far from home.
~~ Abd al-Rahman of Cordoba (731-788 CE) translation: D.F. Ruggles
Posted in This Life
6 Responses to “Far from Home”
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Where did you find that poem? It’s beautiful.
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I first read it in a book called, “The Ornament of the World” by Maria Rosa Menocal. But I would imagine it can be found in any compendium of pre-Islamic poetry. It’s fairly famous in that genre. I wish I could read Arabic and hear it in the original. Because it must be beautiful. ~W
Beautiful poem. I didn’t grow up with palm trees, but they are my happy vacation tree. Just the sight of them makes me relax!!
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~W
I miss them. I miss the topography of Southern California. I’m afraid I’ll always want Agave and Palms over Rhododendrons and Fir.
Oh, your pic makes me homesick too! I’m feeling very at home in Chicago-land west suburbs, and yet, SB is my home, and SF my cousin.
Blessings to you!
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I’m so happy to hear Chicago-ish is feeling like home to you. You sound happy in this call. And they are so LUCKY to have you, Deb! Someday, I want to come visit the area and your church and hear you preach! ~W
Ahhh. Santa Barbara. Beautiful. You and me *in* Santa Barbara. Even more beautiful.
It’s good to know exactly where you belong – even if you aren’t there. Yet.
looove that photo. Love the white and the green and the blue.