Barkas I
I came to Barkas to Jameela's cousins
Along with Helen, a Berlin anthropologist
I wanted to be near my Adnan, my chavush
I passed Salala where he lives
But I do not know his house
(I could not reveal our secret
by asking the way to his house)
I drank black coffee
and ate dates
I felt myself in faraway Yemen
I remembered the Prophet living on a single date
I heard Jameela's familiar voice
I heard Helena's accented Hindi
from the inner room
I saw the noon sky overcast
I wished to rain like a cloud.