The Shadow of Saleem

By Omar Mahmoud Saeed

The story of Saleem represents the area of Desert and Nile, and the shadow of Saleem is reflected on the natural environment and upon some villager's identities. Saleem is the main character of the story. Until now, I do not know if the story of Saleem is real or an illusion. When I was about six years old, my family told a tale to the youth about Saleem, the one who comes out of the Nile River. He was friendly to the village tenets. When he disappears for an extended period of time, village people asked about him because the Nile River does not flood up and the agricultural land dries. The village's market is enriched with fruits and dates with Saleem's appearance but is deprived of them with his disappearance. One day, the village crowded with people who hurried to meet Saleem, described as a creature half way between a human and an ape. But my family asked me and all the kids not to go with the adults to see Saleem. The image of Saleem appears and disappears in my mind. I have seen him in person and I now see him between reality and imagination. The tales neared the character of Saleem to reality, undoubtedly he is a Nilotic creature. Some villagers say he is a blend of human and ape and he always spend the night inside the Nile River.Some people use Saleem's identity as a metaphor that is reflected upon the natural environment of the desert and Nile. This mythical story is reminiscent of my child hood days spent between the Nile River and the Desert.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1532985576
• ISBN13: 9781532985577
• Release Date: May 2016
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 164 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.4" x 5.3"