Word of the Day: Dervish

Dervish –

1: a member of a Muslim religious order noted for devotional exercises (such as bodily movements leading to a trance)

2 : one that whirls or dances with or as if with the abandonment of a dervish

Etymology: Turkish derviş, literally, beggar, from Persian darvīsh

First Known Use: 1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

(Definition from AP Stylebook’s partnership with Merriam-Webster)

Okay, story time. When I was about 11 years old, I discovered a card game called Magic: The Gathering. It was new. It was different. It was amazing. And as I explored more and more of the cards, I discovered something even more amazing: The cards used some words I didn’t know.

Now, you have to understand, I had a truly excellent vocabulary for an 11 year old. I knew how to spell cash register in kindergarten without studying. I started reading Stephen King books in first grade. In fact, I was a reader of every genre. I knew things. But at that time, I didn’t know what a homunculus was. I didn’t know what an oriflamme was. And I didn’t know what a dervish was.

The first time I distinctly remember seeing the word dervish was on a card named Whirling Dervish. I think I had heard the word before because I felt, when I saw it, that it had some vague connection to Arabs. The picture that went along with the name confirmed that idea. Still, I didn’t truly understand what it meant. Only later did I learn that it referred to Muslims who performed certain movements during worship. Later still, I discovered that the word originally came from the word beggar. How interesting. One who dances with the abandonment of a beggar. And who is more free than a beggar, who has nothing to lose? There’s something beautiful about that. Something ineffable. Something amazing.

And so I present to you this poem:

Jubilee

Dust kicks up through the cobblestones,

Twirling, whirling around her feet

As they fly, flurry, and jolt

Her way to Jubilee.

Her hands raise high toward the heavens

Shaking above her joyful face, smiling,

Sweat pouring down in rivulets

And turning the dust to mud.

A crowd gathers round, gawking,

Pointing at the silly woman in rags

And never knowing, never dreaming,

That she’s the only one who’s truly free.

Author's Note: I wrote this story as a contest entry for the Part D: The A-Z of Unusual Words contest. I hope you enjoyed the read. I'd love to hear what you think, so please feel free to leave a comment, click the heart, and subscribe!