Self-Portrait with Profanity

inety-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 ]