Dec 2014
Miriam stands
by the camel
an Arab stands nearby
unimpressed
he holds a rope
tied to the camel
she smiles at me
with my camera
her red bikini
showing more legs
and arms
than the Arab guy
feels comfortable with
I aim
to get her central
her explosion
of red hair
matching that
of the bikini
she fiddles
with her shoulder strap
I wait
eyeing her
through the viewer
focusing
on her *******
as the centrepiece
everything else
to match around
avoiding to get
the Arab in the picture
but it's hard
as he seems to move
closer to her
as I aim once more
he says something
in Arabic
nods to her
I shrug my shoulders
she smiles at him
he moves in closer
his head leaning
to one side
as if someone
has broken his neck
she adjusts the bra
of the bikini
gets it comfortable
I look away from her
hold the camera
by my chest
when you're ready
I say
she does a twirl
in the sand
and back again
facing me
the sands hot
she says
burning my feet
well wear your slip-ons
I say
she goes to her bag
by the camel's back
and takes out
her slip-ons
and puts them on
the Arab watches her
with a dull eyed stare
she comes to the spot
on the sand
where she had been standing
and poses again
the camel seems bored
and looks
at the Arab
then at Miriam
then out to sea
I focus on her again
through the viewer
of the camera
she pouts her lips
puts her hands
on her hips
I put the camera
by my chest
need to focus
no silly faces
or whorish gestures
I say
another Arab
a companion
to the other
passes by
gawking at Miriam
then stands by
the other Arab
then they both
look towards me
hope these to guys
don't want paying
she says
they usually do
I say
now settle
and pose
she poses her face
a weak smile
her eyes gazing
straight at me
where shall I put
my hands?
she asks
that's what you asked
last night
I say
she giggles
and stands
on one leg
the other trying
to balance her
pose now
I say
she puts both feet
on the sand
and becomes still
her hands in front
of her groin
as if she were praying
the Arab guys
were jabbering away
God knows what
they were saying.
by the camel
an Arab stands nearby
unimpressed
he holds a rope
tied to the camel
she smiles at me
with my camera
her red bikini
showing more legs
and arms
than the Arab guy
feels comfortable with
I aim
to get her central
her explosion
of red hair
matching that
of the bikini
she fiddles
with her shoulder strap
I wait
eyeing her
through the viewer
focusing
on her *******
as the centrepiece
everything else
to match around
avoiding to get
the Arab in the picture
but it's hard
as he seems to move
closer to her
as I aim once more
he says something
in Arabic
nods to her
I shrug my shoulders
she smiles at him
he moves in closer
his head leaning
to one side
as if someone
has broken his neck
she adjusts the bra
of the bikini
gets it comfortable
I look away from her
hold the camera
by my chest
when you're ready
I say
she does a twirl
in the sand
and back again
facing me
the sands hot
she says
burning my feet
well wear your slip-ons
I say
she goes to her bag
by the camel's back
and takes out
her slip-ons
and puts them on
the Arab watches her
with a dull eyed stare
she comes to the spot
on the sand
where she had been standing
and poses again
the camel seems bored
and looks
at the Arab
then at Miriam
then out to sea
I focus on her again
through the viewer
of the camera
she pouts her lips
puts her hands
on her hips
I put the camera
by my chest
need to focus
no silly faces
or whorish gestures
I say
another Arab
a companion
to the other
passes by
gawking at Miriam
then stands by
the other Arab
then they both
look towards me
hope these to guys
don't want paying
she says
they usually do
I say
now settle
and pose
she poses her face
a weak smile
her eyes gazing
straight at me
where shall I put
my hands?
she asks
that's what you asked
last night
I say
she giggles
and stands
on one leg
the other trying
to balance her
pose now
I say
she puts both feet
on the sand
and becomes still
her hands in front
of her groin
as if she were praying
the Arab guys
were jabbering away
God knows what
they were saying.
A BOY AND GIRL IN MOROCCO IN 1970
