R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I walked through the cavern

of the mall in Abu Dhabi.

I was as layered as if I was

a scientist in the Antarctic

in winter.

Pants under a dress.

A long sleeved shirt over the

top of the dress.

A scarf around my neck. Everything but elbow length gloves.

Respect for Muhammad’s culture.

Two men in their dresses and head

scarves

slid next to me and

purposely bumped into my side

as if we were doing a sixties dance.

They didn’t laugh. They simply walked on.

I wanted to dash after them and

scream “Why am I dressed like a

toddler in her first snow storm if you

treat me like a whore anyway?”

But I turned and stepped out the

glass door into

the flat inexpressive heat.

respect for Muhammad’s culture.

— Elizabeth Swados 

Click here to hear Elizabeth read her poem.