Self-Portrait with Profanity
ninety-nine names for my god
though i know none for my [ ]
a failing not of my deity but of
my arabic not the language
itself rather the overeager mosaic
i hoard i steal i borrow
from pop songs & mine
from childhood fluency i guard
my few swearwords like tinkling
silver anklets spare & precious
& never nearly enough to muster
a proper arabic anger proper arabic
vulgarity only a passing spar
always using the names of animals
i am not polite i am only inarticulate
overproud of my little arsenal
a stranger blows a wet tobacco kiss
through the window of my taxi
& i deploy my meager weapons
[dog] [pig] [donkey]
& finally my crown jewel
i pass my tongue across my teeth
crane my neck about the window
& call [your mother’s ]
