MOHAMED CHOUKRI

b. 1935, Moroccan

Mohamed Choukri was born in a viUage in northern

Morocco. He spent his childhood and youth in dis-
illusioned poverty and it was not until he was in his early twenties that he
learned how to read and wrrte. Choukri then began publishing novels,
plays, as well as collections of short stories, many of which have been
translated into English and other languages; he received international
acclaim for his autobiographical novel aJ-Khtlbz ,tl-haft. His other works
include MajrlUl1 ai-ward (shore stories, 1979), al-Kh<ry71Ja (short stories,
1985), al-Suq al-dakhili (novel, 1985), Zaman al-akhta' (novel, 1992), and
al-Shattar (novel, 1996). Mohamed Choukri now lives in Tangier.

Little Paradise
Translated by Nathalie Khankan

WRITTEN ONTHE GATE TOTHE LITTLE PARADISE:

I do not think, thenjorr I am.

- Get out' Yc'u no longer belollg here.

She gazed at the guard with sadness in her eyes.
- But vAry do I have to lcaw?
They suck milk and honey from one another.
- Because the Lord if Paradise has expelled youfrom his garden.
They drink wine so delicious as no other wine. They do no); feel
pain. They do not go astray.
- But wJ:y has the Lord 0/ this paradis: expelled me?
They smell savory scents so exciting you will nor find any scents as
these. They slip amongst one another like fish in a net.
- Really, .you don't know why be~ expelled you?
They dance, They suck and suck from one another with delight
They curl up in the green grass and on the scattered beds. They climb the
trees serving as mounts and ladders to each other. They faIl down but
they do not get hurt.
- No really, 1 don't know why I'm being expelled.
Their ecstasy in the tents and small castles is unlike any other eC-
stasy. They lie there stretched out. Raised high. .
- Because you think and you dream. And you have been grieving 111
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this place for a very long time.
- I don't believe that the Lord oj Paradise expels mejar this nason. It's not my
Jault if I have gone astray.
They eat and drink all that their souls desire. Cups are emptied and
filled to overflow anew. To them belong all day and all night.
- 'Ibe Lordqf lhradiseIfts angry with whoever thinks, dream.l, andgriMS inhisgarden.
- I don't [)fliew that the Lord is that cruel. He is mild andforbearing.
They run. They hide. They discover each other. They swim, rest in
the shade, and ride on swings. They hide. They laugh.They are enraptured.
- No, you'rewrung. He isjust but notjorbearing. How would he wantyou in his
paradise when for a very long time no one has even touched you? To you belongs neither
dt!Y nor night..
They do not think. They do not read and do not write. They do not
dream or cause pain. They do not get distressed and are not confused.
They livein serenity.
- BJhmce tlxn was ayoung man with file whose beauty is bl)'Ond comparison ...
They roast birds. They throw fmits and pearls, well-guarded. at one
another. They relish in intimacy with silky handkerchiefs and picked
flowers. Woe unto he who keeps himself to himself thinking. dreaming,
and grieving. They do not fight with each other nor do they envy each
other; They do not rival or harbor anyfeelings of animositytowards cam other.
They arenot embarrassed of anYllling. Everything is permitted to the~.
- And why is this young man no IMlffr with you? Don't you know that it's
prohibited here Jor a man to remain without a woman andjor a woman to remain
witbout a man?
- I know.
-And .. .?
- Ever since I came to this paradise I haw been struck with bad luck.
- ff'e're sorry. You must leav« this place andgo to the world oj toils.
She left saddened a~ one who has gone astray.

- Get out' You no longer belong ben.

He gazed at the guard with sadness in his eyes. He conjured up the
happiness of the paradise that he had tasted once. The toils outside the
paradise began to take shape in his mind.
- But ...J>y do 1 have to leave?'
TInT drink without sinning. They eat whatever pleases them. They
~uck everything that is sweet. They come out from their days and enter
11100 their nights. To them belong every day and every night.
- Because ever since youcanuhert you've been thinkin& dreaming. andgrinJjng.
I'hrriforr, the urd oj paradise is expelling youJust like he expelled those b10rtyou.
They do not give alms. They do hot beg. They do not work. They

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 do not question themselves. They do not have memories or regrets.
-1 cannot beliM thai the Lordo/Ihis paradise is this cruel.
The virgin-like and the younglings are all friends to each other. Tiny
downs of blond and beautiful legs glow in the light that is neither from
the day nor from the night.
- No doubt )'Ou will have 10 belitve and obey Ihe order.
They are not jealous.They do not sigh.They do not sin nor do they
repent from sin.
- Ts difficultfor me to believe it and 1 don't quite understand . . .
They neither ask about their people nor about their countries.They
do not mention who they are and where they are from. They just come as
others have done belorc them.
- ... I have never heard 0/ what you are sayin.~ bifore.
They come to the little paradise in large flocks from all over.
- 1 have on{y delivered toyou vJJat )IOU already know. You don't have the r~ht 10
tjwstion me on the doings 0/ the Lord 0/ thi.~ paradise. This is his dominion.
They are merciful in everything between them and whatever they
own is shared amongst them.
- -Is thm noforgiveness here?
Neither lineage nor rank distinguishes them from one another. There
is no difference between them in language or knowledge.
- 1 don't know any more than you about this.
They live blessed in case, naked as they were once created. They ar-e
like mirrors and gifts to one another.
- !f Oldy you would tell me a little.?f Wh41.YOU do know.
- You arouse weariness in the souls. There will be no day or night_for you.
- But once there was ayoung woman with me. A woman· whose beauty is beyond
comparison ...
- And this womanis no lon§r withyou! Who do you think would want to stay
withyou when you are/ining liki' tbat? Don't]fIU know it~ a disgrarefor aJritnd to
abide here fortver without anotherfriend?
. - I know.
-And . .. ?
- I am an Ulifortunate man. .
The young man obeyed the order. His portion was wrath and so e
left. In front of the gate to the little paradise the young woman was the
object of wrath while she waited for her friend. Their glances embraced
each other. His hands toudled hers. They left looking for a new paradise.
A paradise without days or nights. A paradise that had no Lord and no
guard.

Tangier, 3. ZO. 1971

320 Ezifltbrwh xxVIII