The Road Down South

If you ever drive southwards towards the Negev, remember to look just ahead of you, because there, flying very low, you may see a spectacular sight of buzzards; they might have even been eagles. Hooked beaks, so clear in view, and wings spread wide as they glide in unison; a surreal embodiment of the primordial. And further down the road, an encounter with a low-flying flock of pelicans must be one of the most breathtaking sights I have seen in my life: white bodies with wings waving gracefully through the air. They seem to swoop you up and carry you with them heavenward.

If you ever drive southwards towards the Negev, remember to look just ahead of you, because there, flying very low, you may see a spectacular sight of buzzards; they might have even been eagles. Hooked beaks, so clear in view, and wings spread wide as they glide in unison; a surreal embodiment of the primordial.

And further down the road, an encounter with a low-flying flock of pelicans must be one of the most breathtaking sights I have seen in my life: white bodies with wings waving gracefully through the air. They seem to swoop you up and carry you with them heavenward.

Otef Aza (The Gaza Envelope) is a region that rouses the majesty of the land. It’s vast farmlands and magnificent views are a lush Garden of Eden. The not-so-far distance reveals buildings shaded in deep grey, above which hovers a thick haze of soot and pollution that rises to the sky and stretches across the horizon.

I find myself confronted with a barricade of barbed wire that has been laid across the ground. Once pulled open to create a gap wide enough to drive through, I am surrounded by rich brown mud that extends to the perimeters of the base, and then beyond, fields of emerald green. I wonder how my tyres are faring as I slowly make my way on the makeshift, muddy road. As I step out of the car, I discover that the mud is somewhat dry. Or, who has come to meet me, says, “There might be shooting, so don’t get a fright.”

“Me? Nah,” I say. “I don’t get too alarmed by shooting. But thank you.”
Now, what I omitted to say, was that I am the one who calls the shots 😉

Share the Post:

Related Posts

The Uneasy Supplicant

lacing my fingers togetherI wondershould I kneelstandmaybe salute althoughI well comprehendthe rulesof a regiment I’m at a lossto knowwhat regimented

Read More