The simple story about the creation of the world

 Subach Aziz (translated by the author)

When the creation was over, God leaned back, enjoying the end of a day and looking at his work - beautiful and glistening (and still a bit wet). “The trouble is,” he thought, “I haven’t got the time to look after all the things I’ve created”. And so God raised his voice (in a sound of silence) and called his ministers, so he could divide the world among them.

First came Ocean. “You that came first will get most of the world’s area”, said God. You will have lots of water, storms, plenty of creatures, from the world’s smallest to the whale. Yours are abysses and the riches of the world. All the restless nomads will come to you.”

Second came Forest. “It’s good you came on time”, said God. “I was waiting for you to take all the trees, the woodlands, the streams and the rivers. You will have all the rain forests, the bush, springs and hidden paths, giant snakes, alligators and colorful butterflies. All the adventurers, all the seekers of trouble and treasure will come to you”.

The Mountain minister got high peaks, narrow paths and everlasting snow. All the lovers of solitude, all the poets and thinkers, would come to him.

The Steppe minister got vast expanses and fast horses (as well as many other things). All the lovers of freedom would come to him. 

That is that, thought Good Old God (who was quite tired and wanted to go home). But then, late and last, came a poor old guy: The Desert. God was silent and the Desert was silent. God raised his eyes and said “You are so very late, I’ve given all that is worthy to the others”. The Desert smiled for a while and said “What you give is yours forever, and what you keep is lost, and all that you got to give is worthy”. God smiled silently and said “I haven’t got plenty of water to give you, son (and he said it as if the word was pulled out of his heart), only a few springs and dry wadis, a few bushes, bare rocks”. He opened the wind sack and a hot, easterly desert wind leaped out. “Only thirst and hunger are left for you, son”, and God shook the sack and all the sands of the desert were scattered. Thus all the creatures of the night were waken, small and weather-beaten. And the Desert took what was given, and Good Old God smiled silently, and the Desert smiled back.

And God said “A hard land I’ve given you, but I shall make it to be a journey land. All the restless nomads will come to you, all the freedom lovers, all the lovers of solitude, all the seekers of trouble and treasure, all the adventurers, all the prophets and poets. And since you are so poor, so hard and so bitter, you shall be the test of all the truly big things”.

So evening came and morning came, a new day.