Ramadan in Rabat
She’s sweating in the Moroccan sun
Cussing out everyone
The culture here, the people, the stink…
So Karim pours her another drink
Parce qu’elle le vaut bien.
Her husband said a year or two
It’s been three
She’s been at home, nothing to do
And he’s been at the embassy
A tagalong wife
A shell of a life
What did she think!
What did she possibly think!
So Karim pours her another drink
Parce qu’elle le vaut bien.
Some weeks ago she went with Sabrina
In a taxi to the medina
For authentic stuff from the gutter
Probably made in China,
When suddenly she heard the driver mutter:
Vagina. Vagina.
Tut-tut, tut-tut, Karim shakes his head
I kick him in gut, I make him so dead!
Parce qu’il le vaut bien.
They got out of the car
Oh, no-one did warn her!
Before they got far
As they rounded the corner
They saw him kneeling, oh so provoking!
Revealing…, stroking…
The uncleannes!
His penis!
Karim, the waiter, doesn’t blush
Nor go hush or shush
The only sound around is clink
As he pours her another drink
Parce qu’elle le vaut bien
A policeman came and eyed up the man
And said, écoutez madame, his thinking is hazy
He hasn’t eaten, it’s ramadan
We all go a bit crazy
To put him in jail
Is out of scale
You know, a normal male…
Let’s give this swine
A hefty fine
Or as you call it, a bail
Look, he’s pale!
In prison
He will die!
Listen,
Tell me why
Will you push him over the brink?
Karim sighs and pours her another drink
Parce qu’elle le vaut bien
I detest him
I insist you arrest him
He is, what do you say here, a kafir!
He *should* suffer!
Make him squeal
This ordeal
Is unreal
*I* must heal!
Let the wheel of justice turn
Let this godforsaken bastard burn!
Karim gives her a little wink
And pours her another drink
Parce qu’elle le vaut bien
A few weeks later a scene could be seen
And interrupted her yoga routine
The guard at the gate ruptured her inner calm
As he shouted on the intercom
It’s his mother, he said, the driver’s. She’s crying.
She says jail has broken her son, he’s dying.
She says she can’t bear to outlive him.
She says only you can forgive him.
This is what I’ve heard
And I believe it’s the truth I’ve been told
If you just say the word
He might die not a youth, but old.
Karim nods sagely: did you shrink? Rethink?
And he pours her another drink.
Parce qu’elle le vaut bien
Justice, she replied, must be served, I always say.
To each what he deserved, it’s as clear as night and day!
And this is how you do it here, right?
Keep you dick in your pants or … goodnight!
Even a low-creeping creep should know
What you reap: you reap what you sow
He put this on his own head!
It’s not my problem if he’s living or dead!
Indeed, Karim says and finds her a pink cup
This is for you, he says. Drink up.
Parce que vous le valez bien.
And you know what she did, the mother?
She threatened me with another son. Another!
Of course, I called her bluff
One dick-wagging son is more than enough!
Oh yeah, he’ll find me
And make me pay the price?
Maybe he’s right behind me!
Oh, that’s nice!
A pox on you all
A pox on this place
Your dicks are too small
Get out of my face.
Parce que je le vaux bien
Bien sûr, madame, Karim says, I think this was it.
The curtain is falling, inshallah, I’ve done my bit.
She stutters and stammers,
Suppressing a scream
She did see this brother
— His name was Karim.
The sun is setting, the sun is setting
There will be no more sweating
Forget, yes, but forgive?
Ah, non. And now the sun has set.
If this is how you live
Then this is how you regret
Is this is what you give
Then this is what you get
Chien.
Parce que tu le vaux bien.