A final visit to Umm Kulthum

I visited her, days after she suffered a stroke that left her left half paralyzed. She had difficulty speaking. I kissed her forehead and we exchanged words that are usual in such situations. It became clear to me at that moment that she had renounced life; Except for a little while, I saw the shadow of "Aql" at the top of the bed, with a satisfied smile on his face. It seems that it was at that time; A rare break from his resident boredom. The woman was singing: "You had the most beautiful story in your entire life with me." The antique radio was next to her on the bed at her request, while pictures of her late husband, her children and grandchildren were distributed on the walls. Among them was a photograph of her, in the form of the Mona Lisa, but with a smile that was not tinged with the mystery that da Vinci intended. After a few days, you will lose your speech. She will refuse to eat any food, then they will carry her unconscious to intensive care, at Mansoura International Hospital.

علي عطا، خريج كلية الإعلام بجامعة القاهرة - قسم الصحافة. صدرت روايته الأولى "حافة الكوثر" عن الدار المصرية اللبنانية في بداية 2017، ولاقت احتفاءً نقديًّا ملحوظًا، إذ كتب عنها عددٌ كبيرٌ مِن النقاد؛ في مقدمتهم الدكتور جابر عصفور والدكتور شاكر عبد الحميد والدكتورة شيرين أبو النجا والدكتورة لنا عبد الرحمن. أصدر بين عامي 2001 و2013 ثلاثة دواوين شعرية:"على سبيل التمويه"، "ظهرُها إلى الحائط"، و"تمارين لاصطياد فريسة". يعمل حاليًّا مشرفًا على القسم الثقافي بوكالة أنباء الشرق الأوسط.