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
Veian ambassador from his seaside mansion to be received by the Grand
Vizier； Bald Ragip Pasha； a portly woman in the new Langa bazaar holding a
huge head of cabbage like a child she was about to nurse； my elation when the
Divan Herald Ramazan Effendi