Story Starter Picture
My first cousin, who lives in BD, posted this picture on his blog, and I can't stop looking at it. I hope you check out the picture before you read any further.
A woman in traditional dress is in conversation with a man. The woman faces the camera, and the man has his back to the camera.
The contrasts beg for the telling of the story behind the picture--which none of us will ever know, probably, so we'll have to fill in with our imagination. Here are some of the launching points for my imagination:
1. She looks alluring (peeking out from under the veil which she has pulled aside--why did she do that?, gesturing, with her slender fingers pointing toward the space between them, but helping also to compose the picture perfectly); he looks tough (hands on hips).
2. The relationship between them appears to be intimate (they stand face to face, very close together), but they're apparently talking in the street (very public place)
3. The fabric of her veil is filmy, decoratively stitched, and sky-blue (I actually checked, and it's the exact color of the sky outside my window right now); he wears a sturdy navy long-sleeved shirt.
4. She appears thoughtful (She has an upturned face and down-turned eyes--I think); he appears determined (hands on hips, as noted before) and is looking down at her (I think)
5. They're both on their way somewhere, but headed in opposite directions.
6. This moment of ever-so-human interaction contrasts with the asphalt and concrete in the environment, and the machines (motorcycle and minivan?) carrying people in isolation right past each other, with no interaction whatsoever occurring.
7. The lady's traditional dress is present in very modern surroundings.
8. The man is carrying something; the woman apparently has her hands free.
Someone who knows more than I do about the culture should write this story to get the details right, but there's enough human drama present for all of us to feel emotional connection to these two strangers in an encounter on a street half a world away.
A woman in traditional dress is in conversation with a man. The woman faces the camera, and the man has his back to the camera.
The contrasts beg for the telling of the story behind the picture--which none of us will ever know, probably, so we'll have to fill in with our imagination. Here are some of the launching points for my imagination:
1. She looks alluring (peeking out from under the veil which she has pulled aside--why did she do that?, gesturing, with her slender fingers pointing toward the space between them, but helping also to compose the picture perfectly); he looks tough (hands on hips).
2. The relationship between them appears to be intimate (they stand face to face, very close together), but they're apparently talking in the street (very public place)
3. The fabric of her veil is filmy, decoratively stitched, and sky-blue (I actually checked, and it's the exact color of the sky outside my window right now); he wears a sturdy navy long-sleeved shirt.
4. She appears thoughtful (She has an upturned face and down-turned eyes--I think); he appears determined (hands on hips, as noted before) and is looking down at her (I think)
5. They're both on their way somewhere, but headed in opposite directions.
6. This moment of ever-so-human interaction contrasts with the asphalt and concrete in the environment, and the machines (motorcycle and minivan?) carrying people in isolation right past each other, with no interaction whatsoever occurring.
7. The lady's traditional dress is present in very modern surroundings.
8. The man is carrying something; the woman apparently has her hands free.
Someone who knows more than I do about the culture should write this story to get the details right, but there's enough human drama present for all of us to feel emotional connection to these two strangers in an encounter on a street half a world away.
posted by Mrs. I (Miriam Iwashige) at
7:45 AM
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