A simple youth I came
I moved in freedom’s name
they said it was a shame
that I should bear this name
“Although we act so lenient
we think it inconvenient
because it lacks all fame
just ditch your awful name
Outsiders we detest
we’re better than the rest
you have yourself to blame
your face and foreign name
Its consonants are weird
as is your shaggy beard
you people are the same
regardless of your name
Your turban we’ll address
enough we cannot stress
your look is pretty lame
in keeping with your name
your headscarf is unstitched
a rag you should’ve ditched
before your hither came
it’s lousy like your name
Your modesty said no
to our open maillot1
we’ll ban yours all the same
you’re only free in name
We love your food and spice
hot curry, golden rice
we say this dish is nice
but never learn its name
We claim our thoughts are equal
but hide the evil sequel
imperial is our aim
and Babel’s corrupt name
For though we say exotic
we deem it quite demotic
although this sounds quixotic
it’s all a simple game
We covet all the power
within the watchful tower
these peasants must be tamed
that’s why we rigged the game”
I missed my wālidayn2
The palm tree shaded lanes
The winter here’s insane
The snow was 40 names
My language I forgot
and see, although I got
my cousins in a frame
I can’t recall their names
I didn’t much inherit
besides my father’s spirit
my things I got through merit
except my ethnic name
They gave a reign of words
and dreams to flightless birds
on every cell of shame
each bird had etched its name
They gave us rhymes and ghazal3
and focus on the azal4
they should’ve upped their game
for me to keep my name
And now I roam the streets
in thrall to cold and heat
mad blisters on my feet
one item to my name:
a notebook with no name
Notes
- swimsuit
- parents, mother and father
- a poetic form common to Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and other Islamic languages
- eternity
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