Goddess of Wakati

Goddess of Wakati..
A flittering comes out of the approaching ebony night.Heading towards the large worn tent nestled in a small wadi crouched between plains and dunes.A sandy whiteness laced with browns.Stark landscapes surround.An eye in the storms of time.Bobbing and weaving as though riding the slight air currents.It ducks down to perch beside a tiny flap.Pause and rest.Then wriggling into the gloomy scented interior it sat.And watched an ancient rite born in the far depths of time.....
Dark eyes made darker with mesdemet flutter to the drums and beats drifting out from behind her.Prominent hooked noble nose.Veil hidden face glittering.Her hair tangled into fell locks shifted in bunchs around high cheekboned vixen features.Exposed skin covered with traceries and markings done in henna.Hands and fingers almost black with tiny cuneiforms.She stood postured in introduction.Immobile.Before her covering the ground and laid out in a circle were wellworn disterkhan.Atop and scattered around the mats were wooden tabangs holding sweetmeats and other refreshments.A murmur sounded from the scolars arranged before her lounging on toshak cushions.A meeting of tribes from all the desert peoples.A meeting of minds and traditions.
"Nionyeshe njia tafadhali !"..."Tunataka kuona !"..."Tafadhali mzee !"..."Mama !..mama !"..
Clad in flowing black silk pants streaked with deep green that flashed glimpses of skin as a slight breeze shifted around the tent.The tiny slitted black top bunched at elbows breathed about her body in billows.Tiny belled silver slippers covered her dainty feet.A tinkling sound from the anklets and bijou's sewn into her garments emerged as she started to slowly shift and move.Raising her arms snaking and writhing her hands she started to pound out a counterbeat with her left foot.The rhythm of the world encased and preserved in dance.Arms raised above her head now she clasped her hands together and started to sway.A hipbone suddenly showed as her hips began to swirl.Her movements in time with the music as it started to speed up.Slowly turning her body the foot continued the beat till her movements rode the crest of the swelling music.Feet marking time with knees akimbo as Wakati displayed the teachings of the various gods given to man.Arms were still raised above her head as bejeweled hands started a slow clap.Engaging her stomach muscles she started a rolling effect till her entire body was making a snake like circling movement.For now was the passage of womens lore.Love rituals through to the bloodiness of birth and raising fine children.Swaying from side to side and turning she presented a helix as fingers flicked the through indices of all life.Faster and faster till bodily outlines blurred and condensed histories peaceful and restless were imprinted on the minds before her.Sponges for her ocean of knowledge.Faster...
"Mzee wakati !"..."Mzuri sana !"..."Asante sana goddess !!"...."Mama !..mama !"..
Whirling on the spot she suddenly stopped with leg outstretched.Arms held before.Her hands tilted into the correct pattern.Fingers either raised or lowered depending on lettering enscribed on skin.Stamping both feet now she switched till she was in time with the drums.Twirling her slim figure arms now lowered as they and her hands communicated more knowledge.Endings were approaching and last fragments needed telling before dawn claimed her.Through the old ones before her who would spread out and bring forth the one true knowledge.Until the next millenium and the path was overgrown and becoming unpassable.Intake of breath from watchers was exhaled as one.
"Mzee Wataki mzee !!..Alfajiri !!"
Dawn broke.........
a rough translation of the Swahili is : "please show me the way !"..."we would like to see !"..."please elder one !"..."Mother ! mother !"