A young girl from Arabia named Sumaya el-Anate
grew up dreaming that, despite the heat, she would someday ice-skate
in front of her mother, crowds, and king to rapturous applause
and so one December secretly made an unusual request of Santa Claus,
as she did not expect her immediate circles to fully appreciate
the details of what equipment was needed to skate.
What joy she had, on the appropriate day, to find new boots
with blades that fit her just so, that were styled as if from Beirut’s
best fashion show. Not typical boots, these had a faint pink glow
and when pushed hard enough would cut through sand like snow.
From then on, every day after school, Sumaya would train
in the dunes, forcing the sand away, tempering with the strain
under a searing sun whose energy channeled towards her feet,
till one day with a surge of strength she glided at long last, fleet
beyond measure. Trailing behind her was a glassy treasure
where the heat had melted the sand. Oh to glide was such pleasure
that Sumaya went on in a graceful dream until crowds grew
around a lake of glass, glinting like ice. Word spread. She performed
for the old king who came, and her mother, who saw her transformed.
