I am a lucky creature:
never kidnapped, stamped
or exchanged for a cow
I avoided circumcision
and stoning

I don’t have to pretend
that I like chador
No one will kill me
because I dare desire
or stare at him

I can go for a walk
on my own,
read,
dance tango,
argue with a man

I am the apple of my eye,
proud of myself,
a  rose for my senses,
a  refugee from the Land
of Unfortunate Circumstances

Yes, I can see it quite clearly,
even if my only master, Mr. Chance
nonchalant as usual
will never admit
how much I owe him

23 November 2011