The Arabian Nights is an impressive piece of Arabic literature. Just a little research into the story will take you into the realms of imagination. When I was a little kid, the story “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” was part of my childhood. My childish instincts made me believe that such a lamp truly existed and that I would be able to have possession of one once I grew up. Little did I know what was in store for me in the future.
When I grew up till the age of mature understanding, not only did I know that genies existed but that they were also frightening creatures. I heard of many incidents concerning their awkward behaviour when they took the shape of humans. Also stories that included how a person more curious then he ought to have been brought his life to an end when he found a genie with his image dancing like crazy. This was so frightful for him that he had a heart attack ultimately leading to his death.
The fact that little is known about them makes their world seem interesting. The other day, we had gone to a bookstore. My brother was so ecstatic when he found a CD containing facts and pictures about genies. I laughed it off saying that there would never be any picture taken of a real genie in that. Even if there were, they would be made up. Little did I know how untrue my words where.
It soon turned out that the pictures it contained were extremely scary. There was one of a man who had the legs of a camel and another where it showed hanging from a tree a weird- looking, green creature almost the physique of a human’s but only more slender. Its ears were pointed. This only made me realize the truth I did not know.
The world of genies is a real scary thing. A place no one should really dare to venture into. It is worth mentioning the fact that alongside the picture of the genie on the tree, was written that the man who had taken the picture was immediately killed by the genie. Isn’t that scary enough? At least my brother, who is so fascinated by them, is scared. And it’s about time I said, finally.
Published on July 12, 2003