Black Sand

 

 

As the song or the snake charmers vibrated in my ears I also heard something else. It seamed so far a way if a siren was calling out for me from across the sand dunes. I knew it my time was coming and there was not much I could do. To think that all this started in an antiquity shop on the lower eastside of town. I had taken the day of and was having fun as I often do shopping. Most of the time I look and look and look but never by a thing. This time was different. I saw the most spectacular hourglass. It was made from ebony wood with inlays of birch. The design curved and crawled around the glass and every time you look at it it seams to change. The glass it self looked flawless as if a master had blown the glass taking just enough time on each detail. The sand was like no other it was black yet glowed with all the radiance of the sun. So for once in what seemed to be years I actually bought some thing while shopping. As I walked to the desk to purchase the hourglass the casher gave me a look. No, actually she gave the hourglass a look disgust. This thing again, in the last two months has been sold 6 time and finds its way back each time, said the cashier. I smiled thinking that it was no big deal.

 

 When driving home I couldnt get a radio station for all the rice in china. No big I need time to think. I had just started my hiatus and I need to figure out what I would do with my time. After about 20 minutes I decide that I would do some research, reading, and hypothesizing focusing on my other of my loves anthropology and philosophy. After getting home I decided I would fix my self a snack and jump right in to reading more about the Greek culture and society.  I had grabbed my writing journal from the shelf and within the first few strokes of the pen I had remembered what I had forgotten the hourglass. I sat my book on the desk and walked back to my shopping bag. After pulling away several layers of protective tissue paper I finally revealed it my hour glass. Now the question where was I to put it as I a looked around I noticed a space in the center of the mantel.  The space was just right just enough space to put it their and not have to move a thing. Beginning to set down the hourglass I decided to give it a trial run so I turned it over. Sitting down at my desk I began writing again. I lifted my pen to turn the page and noticed that I was humming. The song was one that I had never in my life heard before this day. I keep humming and writing since it is not bothering me. Suddenly I lost interest in the Greeks. I walked to the bookcase to pick another culture as I slide the book about Greeks back in place my hand brushed against a book that I dont even remember buying, it must have been a gift, it was a book on ancient Egypt. I sat down and began to devour the book. Previously I had never had a great interest in Egypt. I read from dusk deep into the night until I could barely hold my eyelids open. I sat the opened book on my desk and proceeded on to my bedroom. I quickly slipped into something comfortable and quickly jumped into bed. The soft comforters and sweet smells of home carried me off.

 

The sand whirled about me disorienting me. In the distance I could see a caravan moving across the sand. I stood there in my pajamas. Just then the alarm went off it was time to rise again. I made my self a cup of chai a recipe of my own. As I sipped the warm beverage I walked back to the desk and began reading again delving deeper and deeper into the Egyptian culture. I read from dusk until dawn. I took a quick shower and hoped right into bed.   This time I awoke sitting on the back of a camel dressed in an elaborate garment. I am covered in much jewelry with the symbols of various gods. Just over the horizon I can see what seems to be a great palace but the architecture does not match the landscape it reminds me of the drawing of Atlantis. Just then the alarm goes of again. I get up fix myself a small breakfast and jump right back into my reading.  From the corner of my eye I caught my hourglass, which had now been going for several days and was not near completion. Then I realized some thing else the twisting inlays where Egyptian symbols. As I looked closer only two symbols could I recognize. Ka and Amenta the symbols for soul and the under world but their were still many to be deciphered. I hoped up realizing that it had been a long time since I ate seeing how it was almost two in the morning. I didnt realize that I had become that enthralled. I went into the kitchen and fixed myself a sandwich of grand proportions. I dug into my sandwich as I read.

 

 I began another chapter but, now the effects of the turkey sandwich were setting in and I was becoming very drowsy. I again set the open book down on my desk and began to my room decided to pick up my hourglass and take it to my room. As I lifted the hourglass of the mantel noticing another symbol I knew sleep which I needed badly. I set the hourglass on the shelf above my bed while I changed into my pajamas. I stared up trough the glass shelf and the hourglass as I drifted of to sleep. The caravan finally reached the palace. We walked down a long hall into a room with two large thrones sitting side by side. In the corner there was a musician playing the song that I was humming earlier.  In one throne there was a beautiful young woman adorned in the clothing of Egyptian royalty. Slowly she stood up and walked toward me. She spoke to me in a tongue unrecognized by my ears but I understood it. She said Finally you have come to be by my side. To be pampered for eternity. Your wish is the command of all the servants, In this realm there is no thing that can not be achieved.  I opened my mouth to speak and out came more of the same tongue but once again I understood it. I said, But what purpose do I have here. Replying she said, You are to enjoy and help enjoy and nothing else must you be concerned with. After that I walked up to the empty throne. There on the handle sat the hourglass as I look at it this time all was evident. It read Through sleep I shall give you pleasure. Never shall your soul report to the under world. I pick up the hourglass and black sand a that contained inside whirls around my head forming a crown. As I turn the hourglass over I read Time and space are your play things.