Ishmael

Hisham, Sahara and Ishmael
Are the Egyptian children
Who live behind us in the
College married student
Housing apartments,
They are the age of my
Three sons, 11, 9, 5.
I take them all to the
University free movie on
Saturday morning.
They all sit very close and
Frolic in the paper airplane
Fights that preceded the film.
All except Ismael who sits by me
Halfway back, he will not speak
Except to his family, he is 5 and
Sits, arms crossed, frowning.
The film is Moby Dick and the
Film blares out Ishmael’s name.
He turns to me, “Did he say Ishmael?”
I explain Ishmael is
The film hero. I cannot shut the
Kid up for the next three years.