All I know
About the hijab
I learned in 03
On a sunny street in Cairo
Walking beside a university girl
And her male friend
Who spoke to me in English
Of tearing down the statue of Mubarek
Of having jobs
Of seeing her hair which had been hid
Since they were children
Suddenly emboldened
She took off the red cloth
Let her dark tresses blow in the wind
As we passed a small mosque
Shirtless men, nipples dark on sweat beaded
chests
Yelled and jeered and gestured madly
Stones clinked at our feet
“What do they say?” I asked
“They call me slut and whore
To be bareheaded
Walking and talking in the street
With kefir”
All I know
About the hijab
I learned in 03
On a sunny street in Cairo
