Tunisian Studies
(Special Wheat)

You speak matches against white paper
sentences of will be, paragraphs of now
sometimes whole clauses, appended and otherwise
tell sand and sun and hot wind from the East

Where miniature popsicles made from kool-aid and toothpicks
set like cubes of aspic in the tray
children will sell them by the side of the road
for more money than tabouna

When I finish drinking I will send a car for you
unless the satellite is thwarted by leaden clouds
the pipes are ready are ready for you
sweet tobacco smoke waits like ghosts
to curl around the cedar rafters

Wear the waitress dress
and your black sweater
arrange your bone-straight hair in this silver mirror
wear your favorite swimsuit
to cook in the Kelibian sun
glistening like teeth of privileged children

Then rise to stand at the door
hand the bellboy sixteen dinar coins
they won?t weight your purse tonight
the festival is three days away by louage
two days now to Douz

oh Tatooine
oh Tatooine
salt flats spread scrolling
as if unfolded
from that old man?s hands.


------------------
Fetch me my blue fright wig, that I may be handsome when I unleash my wrath.