September means pomegranates, overripe tomatoes and Earth Wind and Fire song. It also means beginnings and initiation. In Arabic, the word for September is Aylul (أيلول), which comes from the Syriac word ܐܝܼܠܘܼܠ. My niece is called Aylul. She’s two years old and already succeeded in bringing so much joy and laughter to this world.
I’m writing to you from Valencia, a lovely city on the Spanish coast of the Mediterranean. Since the beginning of September, the nights have become cooler, offering themselves for long evenings in local bars and gatherings of friends. A glimpse of winter is already here. I see it in the fallen leaves, damask-red pomegranates filling Ruzafa’s market and the urgency to wear a long shirt at the beach after a dip in the sunset waters.
I’m writing to apologize. There won’t be a poetic newsletter this month. I’m exhausted physically and saturated emotionally. I don’t feel like writing nor seeing lo más allá in the written word. I will be back in October.
Till then, enjoy the last days of summer 🙂
AICHA BINT YUSIF 