on the Nile, before the lock
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on the Nile, before the lock
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About this listen
In this episode of Musical Poetry, Michael Appelt reflects on one of the most powerful travel experiences of his life: one unforgettable week in Egypt.
From the Pyramids of Giza and the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), to the monumental temples of Abu Simbel near Aswan, relocated in a remarkable UNESCO-led rescue between 1964 and 1968 to protect them from the rising waters of the Aswan High Dam, each day felt iconic.
But this musical poem is not about monuments.
It is about a moment.
Anchored before the lock of Esna during a Nile cruise, the ship waits its turn. Around it, life unfolds: the layered calls to prayer from nearby mosques, an episcopal church standing quietly apart, blue rowing boats circling the hull as traders throw tablecloths skyward, diesel smoke mixing with the scent of burning sugar cane.
Ancient faith, modern engineering, daily survival, all negotiating space along the timeless river.
The episode explores pause, movement, control, coexistence, and what it means to flow, even when redirected.