High Atlas Trek - By Alexis
In the beginning I saw mountains and
auspicious White Horses and
walnuts.
We hiked downandup winding trails,
scrambling out of the way whenever mules
or the occasional truck (Vive Fes!)
strolled/rolled by.
Too many colors:
red dirt blue sky white clouds gray rocks (neon) yellow lichen
blackandwhite goats green (tiered) fields green (spiky) cacti
brown (Amazaghi) villages camouflaged in the mountainside…
only distinguishable from the rocks by the
brightly-colored clothes hanging out to dry.
pink or yellow or brown minarets standing high above the villages,
proudly protecting their people.
my dark green raincoat.
Avoid the mule excrement…
Drink lots of water…
Listen to the call to prayer,
bouncing off each mountain wall…
Long underwear and sleeping bags at night.
Stale bread and Croq’in and jam and fake cheese in the morning.
Playing cards and wrapping blisters.
goats in trees faraway snow mint tea hospitality
rain pain nightly harira
memories made memorable, pictures made beautiful
by laughter and talking and being together.
That is the High Atlas.