Saturday, September 7, 2013

Fifty Years Ago Today - Marek's Pipe

We walked over to Tenegump hamlet and were welcomed by three boys. Marek sat down in the shade of a central tree,  his pipe habitually clutched between his teeth.  Gunia and Maia climbed into his lap, thoroughly enjoying being able to play with an adult man in this totally informal, joking manner.  Kauwia,  slightly older, had his small bow-and-arrow set firmly in hand, ready to hunt lizards in the surrounding overgrowth.  He was also holding a half-smoked cigarette which had gone out.



Seeing the tobacco in Marek's pipe burning merrily, he stepped forward and, in a typical gesture of wheedling, he asked for a light. The other boys were already jealous as they didn't have cigarette stubs of their own.


Continuing his request/demand, Kauwia play-threatened Marek with a typical hand-gesture. 


One might translate this into English as "I'll get you!"  The Italian translation seems even closer: "Mi racommando!"

<>>><><<<>

No comments:

Post a Comment