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                  ]