Baraka

A dream in the garden

I was wandering on an empty beach in Dar es Salaam

when two pirates appeared out of nowhere.

They robbed away all the dreams in my head

and gently cut an opening in my heart.

I became a walking dead without my dreams,

sank to the bottom of the Indian Ocean,

thinking I would be stuck there forever.

Then suddenly, a whale appeared,

A whale from the circus.

Out of pity,

she gave me something to fill the opening in my heart

and told me it is called Baraka —

a blessing not to be seen,

but to be felt.

Lush green pasture with fallen tree trunk surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Traditional wooden boat loaded with fresh produce floating on dark water.

Pigeons take flight at dusk against colorful buildings in a charming colonial town street.

Silhouettes of people sitting on benches against a cloudy sky at sunset.

Vibrant red house exterior with green shutters and colorful household items outside.

Silhouette of a cyclist and lake at sunset with overhanging tree branches.

Musicians performing with traditional instruments on a colorful porch.

Silhouetted bridge view overlooking boats docked along a sunny riverbank.

Tree-lined urban park pathway with parked cars visible through the foliage.

Urban street scene in black and white showing city buildings and pedestrians.

Interior of busy Asian meat market with vendors and customers.

Stone wall overlook with benches providing panoramic views of distant mountains and countryside.

Traditional Thai temple architecture with ornate details against blue sky.

People sitting on bench outside storefront in black and white photograph.

Traditional wooden houses on stilts along a river with red lanterns and small boats in the water.

Lush green forest trail with sunlight filtering through dense tree canopy and scattered rocks on the ground.

Fresh green herbs and produce displayed at outdoor market stall.

Narrow Venice alley with colorful orange walls leading to a domed church in the distance.

Snow-capped Mount Fuji rises above green landscape with lavender bushes in foreground.

Blurred urban street scene with motorcycles and pedestrians in motion.

Red-walled food stall or market counter with hanging utensils and service windows.

Dark train platform at night with illuminated station signs and empty tracks.

Palm tree lined street with modern buildings and pedestrians in an urban setting.

Gothic cathedral interior with soaring arches and dramatic lighting through stained glass windows.

Market stalls with blue tarp coverings and clothing merchandise displayed.

Artistic seaside portrait against rocky coastal cliffs during sunset.

Chapter 3: Page 2/3