As claimed by Abu ？mer bin Abdülber； the interpretation of this legend

doesn’t　mean　that　the　soul　will　possess　a　bird　or　even　bee　a　bird　itself；　but

as　the　learned　El　Jevziyye　aptly　clarifies；　it　means　that　the　soul　can　be　found

where birds gather。 The spot from which I was observing things； what the

Veian masters who love perspective would call my “point of view；”

confirmed　El　Jevziyye’s　interpretation。

From where I was； for example； I could both see the threadlike funeral

procession entering the cemetery； and with the pleasure of analyzing a

painting；　watch　a　sailboat　gaining　speed；　its　sails　gorging　on　wind　as　it　tacked

toward Palace Point； where the Golden Horn met the Bosphorus。 Looking

down　from　the　height　of　a　minaret；　the　whole　world　resembled　a　magnificent

book　whose　pages　I　was　examining　one　by　one。

Still； I could see much more than a man who’d simply ascended to such

heights　without　his　soul　having　left　his　body；　and　furthermore；　I　could　see　it

all at once： On the other side of the Bosphorus； beyond üsküdar； among

gravestones in an empty yard； children playing leapfrog； the graceful

progression　of　the　Vizier　of　Diplomatic　Affair’s　ca？que　propelled　by　seven　pairs

of oarsmen twelve years and seven months ago； when we acpanied the