Foreign Girl

All the boys call after her, ribald tongues a'clackin.
Children trail her eagerly. One daring touch--they flee.
The shopkeeper's brows, gathered gray clouds,
belie his eyes, which slip on the sly,
so clandestine.

A woman in green, hobbled with age,
purses her lips, tsks in dismay.
And a beautiful girl, when they cross paths,
turns hazel brown eyes to the fringe of her hijab
out of caution, propriety, modesty, or fear. Who knows?

--For Alicia, Ena, and Lisa who put up with alot.