My Sister's World

She sleeps in the bright day
The blinds yield at the edges to intense light
Light that reflects on the tiled floor once inside
The rumble on the junction and hiss of air con
Zoned out white noise

Outside the blinding sun blasts the concrete edifices
Hot sand drifts between the blocks
The distance disappears into a dancing blurriness
The harsh sky seems to tolerate no cloud or bird

Large white cars and lorries speed along scorching tarmac
The only pedestrians, thin and small ragged men
Scampering undignified across lanes of fast traffic
Padding their way through the dusty vastness
Ignored by the arrogant towers above

Elusive but stark figures can occasionally be seen
Emerging briefly from buildings or cars
Distant figures swathed in billowing white or black garb
A gender based binary

The light softens and turns amber
Long dark shadows are thrown by tall buildings
Lights flick on and flicker in the distance
Its darker inside now
My sister stirs

A toilet flushes
Barefoot footsteps
The fridge door is opened
'Nadiiaaaa... It was your turn to get milk!'
'Sorrry! I haven't been out yet.'

Traffic on the highways turn to rivers of light
Neon signs dazzle in the streets and skyline beyond
Regular roars of jet engines overhead reverberate every minute
The city serves the global elite in work and play
Like an exclusive all night motorway services

Soon she will join the raging torrents of commerce out there
An all night turnaround shift on a flight to Ankara and back