“The same place that used to gather us
is the place of farewell where love was lost”.
“Nafs El Makan” which is Arabic for “The Same Place” is a song by Amr Diab, written by Medhat El Adl, released in 1996.
You always loved this song for no particular reason, since you heard it for the first time when you were 19 or so, but you didn’t really understand what it meant until recently.
It always touched you, although at that green age you didn’t have a lost love. You just imagined a million love stories, a million fairy tales that never went beyond your mind. You have been anticipating something to happen, always looking for a challenge, for a love that you can never have, you always wanted the impossible. Always fell for the wrong ones, and you always blamed everyone around you. Have you ever blamed yourself? Maybe!
You never listened to any advice, you always listened to yourself only, and here you are now. How does it feel?
I told you never to fall in love with someone who lives nearby. Now that it’s over, every stone in the street has a memory, every stray cat tells a story, and every corner had witnessed a scene.
Now you’re afraid to go out, you’re scared to walk in the same street where you used to fly of happiness. Your feet at that time weren’t even touching the ground. You felt like running and laughing all the time. Now you drag the same feet as if they were made of iron. Your stooped back and the frown on your face make you look like a 70 year old man. When I saw your shadow today, and your slow heavy steps, I knew how pathetic you are.
You keep reminding yourself. This shop, where she was looking at the scarves and waiting for you, for the first time ever. And the café above, where you had your first cappuccino together.
And don’t forget the other café at the northern end of the street near the sea, where you had spent most of the time, holding hands, talking, just staring at each other’s eyes, and usually fighting and crying.
Everywhere there is a memory. You can’t help it! The supermarket, where you went everyday together to buy phone cards. The garage beside the supermarket, where the white dog is always pregnant. The wall of the Catholic school. After a big fight she was walking beside this wall, and when she saw you coming she turned around, and walked in the opposite direction.
Even under your building, where you stood waiting in the corner, the intersection of the two streets, a few hours before your flight. She came running holding something in her hand. She looked at you with her wide hazel eyes that were shining with tears. She held the tears back and gave you that small copy of the Quran that you still have until now. She ran to buy it for you.
Even when you try now to cross the main road, going southwards means getting closer to her home. The other side of the road, where there is your favorite hangout. It used to be your favorite place, now you hate it when you go there. I saw you tonight sitting there with your friends. You were totally lost; it seemed as if you were choking, waiting for the right moment to flee. So you don’t want anyone to remind you of that? For how long are you going to stay this way? I don’t know. You tell me. Sorry, I can’t help you! You can never get rid of that as long as you live here.
They always say that home is where the heart is, but now you have learned a valuable lesson, that home can also be where the heartbreak is. So the next time be careful, never fall in love with someone who lives nearby. Pick someone who lives miles away. Somewhere that you hate, or a place where you have never been to. Or take my advice, and never fall in love again.
is the place of farewell where love was lost”.
“Nafs El Makan” which is Arabic for “The Same Place” is a song by Amr Diab, written by Medhat El Adl, released in 1996.
You always loved this song for no particular reason, since you heard it for the first time when you were 19 or so, but you didn’t really understand what it meant until recently.
It always touched you, although at that green age you didn’t have a lost love. You just imagined a million love stories, a million fairy tales that never went beyond your mind. You have been anticipating something to happen, always looking for a challenge, for a love that you can never have, you always wanted the impossible. Always fell for the wrong ones, and you always blamed everyone around you. Have you ever blamed yourself? Maybe!
You never listened to any advice, you always listened to yourself only, and here you are now. How does it feel?
I told you never to fall in love with someone who lives nearby. Now that it’s over, every stone in the street has a memory, every stray cat tells a story, and every corner had witnessed a scene.
Now you’re afraid to go out, you’re scared to walk in the same street where you used to fly of happiness. Your feet at that time weren’t even touching the ground. You felt like running and laughing all the time. Now you drag the same feet as if they were made of iron. Your stooped back and the frown on your face make you look like a 70 year old man. When I saw your shadow today, and your slow heavy steps, I knew how pathetic you are.
You keep reminding yourself. This shop, where she was looking at the scarves and waiting for you, for the first time ever. And the café above, where you had your first cappuccino together.
And don’t forget the other café at the northern end of the street near the sea, where you had spent most of the time, holding hands, talking, just staring at each other’s eyes, and usually fighting and crying.
Everywhere there is a memory. You can’t help it! The supermarket, where you went everyday together to buy phone cards. The garage beside the supermarket, where the white dog is always pregnant. The wall of the Catholic school. After a big fight she was walking beside this wall, and when she saw you coming she turned around, and walked in the opposite direction.
Even under your building, where you stood waiting in the corner, the intersection of the two streets, a few hours before your flight. She came running holding something in her hand. She looked at you with her wide hazel eyes that were shining with tears. She held the tears back and gave you that small copy of the Quran that you still have until now. She ran to buy it for you.
Even when you try now to cross the main road, going southwards means getting closer to her home. The other side of the road, where there is your favorite hangout. It used to be your favorite place, now you hate it when you go there. I saw you tonight sitting there with your friends. You were totally lost; it seemed as if you were choking, waiting for the right moment to flee. So you don’t want anyone to remind you of that? For how long are you going to stay this way? I don’t know. You tell me. Sorry, I can’t help you! You can never get rid of that as long as you live here.
They always say that home is where the heart is, but now you have learned a valuable lesson, that home can also be where the heartbreak is. So the next time be careful, never fall in love with someone who lives nearby. Pick someone who lives miles away. Somewhere that you hate, or a place where you have never been to. Or take my advice, and never fall in love again.
2 comments:
it seems that all great writers have to start with a heartbreak:)
Let me tell you .. from someone who has been there a million times ... that it will pass ... it will pass if you let it pass ... get angry, write, grieve, then let go.
http://jenny2many.blogspot.com/2005_02_01_archive.html
every stone in the street has a memory, every stray cat tells a story, and every corner had witnessed a scene.
Beautiful Asser!!
I have no more to say, after those few words above!!
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