The Myth of Aynalı Mağara
By Amit Parmessur
Lore has it that a king from Amasya
had a daughter who was so ravishing
that she had to cover her divine face.
When he decided it was time for her
to get married, he sent out news that the
one able to lift her veil, resist her
charm and look beyond her stunning visage
would become her husband. Upon this news,
swarms of bachelors came to Amasya.
One by one, the young men raised the princess’
veil but their hands shook, their knees buckled, so
overwhelmed were they by her elegance.
Like a Swayamvar*, it continued till
a very poor and brave young man said that
he wanted to try his luck. When he did
lift the veil, such a force was emitted
that he and the princess perished in the
inferno that surrounded them. Today,
they are buried in a cave outside the
town, and each time the sun sparkles on their
tomb, the rocky surface gleams as bright as
the face of the king’s ravishing daughter.
*] an old Indian practice of choosing a husband by a girl of marriageable age
*
Amit Parmessur is a poet and tutor from Mauritius. His writing has appeared in around 160 magazines, namely WINK, The Rye Whiskey Review, Night Garden Journal, Ann Arbor Review and Ethos Literary Journal. He loves to pick off past experiences, turn them over in the light and lie about them.
*