Compositions of Light and Literature – JMH

The Tin Harvest was taken in Cairo, Egypt in February 2009.  It was composed with Leica M3, 50 mm Summicron, and Ilford Delta 100 Film.  All images copyright, Jeffrey M. Hopkins, Hard Oak Press LLC.

This young boy approached me at the Giza Pyramids offering me a ride on either on of his “fine” horses for ten Egyptian Pounds.  His name is Waleed and he is the second youngest horse bound tour guide in Egypt.

Boy:  Meester…..al hessan….ashra gennae fahqut.  (Mister…the horse….only ten egyptian pounds)

Me: Kam omruk?  (How old are you?)

Boy:  Ana? (Me?)

Me:  Aywa….enta…kam omruk?  (Yes….you….how old are you?)

Boy:  Sabah (7)

Me:  La areed an irkub al hessan ehlan….rakubtu al jamel min qabl!  (No I don’t want to ride the horse now, I rode the camel before!)

Boy:  “Min fadluk sayid…terkub al hessan….min fadluk…..themanea gennae fahqut.” (Please….sir…..you ride the horse….please….8 egyptian pounds only.)

Me:  “La, la, la areed….mish aesh….” (No No, I don’t want….I don’t want (Egyptian Dialect))

Boy:  Min fadluk ya sayid….min fadluk….hamza gennae fahqut!”  (Please….sir….please…..five pounds only!”

Me:  Abuk feen?  Lematha enta qaid al hessan?”  (Where’s your father, why do you lead the horses.)

Boy:  Nahnu fakeer….min fadluk terkub al hessan…..thalatha genae fahqut.”  (We’re poor…please…ride the horse….3 pounds only.)

Me:  Ma ismuk?  (What’s your name?)

Boy:  Ismee Waleed.  (My name is Waleed.)

Me.  “Ya Waleed, la areed an irkub al hessan, areed an ikuth souratek…..lil thalatha genae.” (Waleed, I don’t want to ride the horse, I want to take your picture….for three pounds.)

Waleed:  Okay mister.  Three pounds.

Click

Me.  Shukran…enta baeeya tayib.  (Thanks, you are a good salesman.)

Waleed:  (Laughs)

That is how this picture came about.  Actually, Waleed’s horses were so skinny I was afraid I would break them.  If you go to the Pyramids, and see him…..take his picture, but give him a tip.