Firstly I must Apologise if I do cause any Embarrassment to any Arab Ladies/Gents on the bay. Please I have not written this to insult anyone or abuse anyone. It was written without prejudice, no intentions in personally causing damage to anyone. I only s


Its Only A Job

By: Audrey Barber


At first I was alarmed, got into a state of shock

When I read they needed Arabs to fill every nook and creek

My stomach shook, spent some time in the lavatory

Shitting myself, knowing I am losing my job!


But then I got over it, Its only a bloody job

Not my liver they are after.

So what! I will go get an Abaya

My face with layers of powder I paste

My eyes I will paint with black charcoal

Pout my lips and smear them blue

Look a scary picture, and frighten all in sight


I know I will survive

In that abaya I can hide

I can find an Arab Baba, hang on him like glue

Get the charley to marry me, it will change my status too!

In this camel country, then a citizen I will be


Once the job is secure, and the money is coming in

I will beat this freak to death

Make it look an accident, where no traces can be found

Hide him in a suitcase, and push it down the creek


I know I can survive

In a black abaya, and with an Arab Baba

I can sit and twiddle me fingers, a shocked look on my face

On the phone I can be, yapping like a cow

I can shake my big fat arse and walk about the place.


Stare at a letter, then turn it upside down

Not knowing how to read.

I would not know to write, as I cannot bloody spell.

But I am good at solitaire, on the computer


The Boss is an Expat, an ageing English speaking bat

When he starts to grumble, I can look at him and cry

If he does not buy it, I can file for harrassment


This crisis to survive, what on earth can't I do

I am going to get a Baba, and jump into an Abaya

Life will be easy, No pressure I will have

In at Ten and out at four, with a Saturday off


Life is good in the Abaya nothing much to do

No great efforts, no no not at all

No Hard-work, no input

But the perks are great, I just get them all

Let me find an Arab Baba, and get that black abaya


Then its just a bloody job

This is not my joint, I cannot call it mine

Someday I have to go

I will not bend and grovel at any camel feet

I will hold my dignity and march out the door


Better I can survive

Without the Abaya

I will not hide myself behind black robes

I do not need a baba, with his head wrapped in cloth

I am not a hypocritic I do not play around


So let me stand and salute

All you Arab camels

You gave me your land and treated me with care

I will cherish your sandy land

As I called it home a while

So now I take your leave and the job you may keep

Stick it up the side, where the sun does not shine





Shukran! dear Arabs and Haflat Wadaa










Poetry by Audrey Barber
Read 889 times
Written on 2006-10-26 at 21:18

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Amanda K
every1 has the right to express her/his thoughts but the problem that some do reflect them unfairly,harming the picture of others and from one side. in some parts of this well-written poem, you depicted that those who wear abaya do wear it to hide and to chase the wealthy man and that was solely their job and purpose of life. Dear in your culture some are doing the same but that doesn't mean that they are all so. they may not be wearing abaya but they chase men. wearing abaya wasn't for that reason . it was as i learned about the Islam relgion for diginity and being chaste. anyhow, thx for bringing it up.

all the best,
2006-12-17


Edna Sweetlove
I lost some of the references but I still liked this. It's nice to encounter an intelligent person for a change.
2006-10-28