The Desert Bird
By Mariam Saeed Al Nuaimi
“The air was filled with a sweet scent as a female figure appeared in the sands.”
Once upon a time in Ras Al Khaimah, there was a beautiful, young damsel called Fatima. After helping with the family chores each day, she would run into the desert, singing songs of love and happiness.
One day, she saw a handsome man dismounting from his horse. Quickly, she hid. “Who are you, O Desert Bird? I am enchanted by your voice,” he said. “I am Faisal, the camel merchant’s son. I will make you my bride before the next crescent moon.” She giggled and said. “If you love me, ask my father for my hand.” He promised to do so and rode off.
One day, she saw a caravan of camels laden with trunks heading to another village. At lunch, she heard her parents say that Faisal was marrying a girl from the next town. Faisal had cheated her! Fatima was overwhelmed with sadness.
Her parents decided that only marriage to another would bring her happiness. On the eve of her wedding, Fatima ran away from home. After trudging through the night, she found a cave in which to sleep.
Filled with hatred for men, evil overcame her. Her legs turned into those of a donkey, while her hands became two sharp blades. Night became her day. As she roamed the sands under the moonlight, her sweet smell lured married men to their doom.
Villagers realized that the men were vanishing, and vowed to solve the mystery. As they lay in wait, the air was filled with a sweet scent as a female figure appeared in the sands. One villager followed her into the cave, and the others pounced. As the sun rose, they saw the name ‘Faisal’ carved on the cave wall.
Until today, people claim that at night, a sweetly smelling woman walks through the desert. They are not sure if she is real or it is just their imagination, but they can clearly hear the sad song she sings, “Men should never deceive innocent women.”
