to where brown noses press in greetings,
whirls of white cede salutations
and hesitations are for pasta
in Khaleej business dinner meetings.
Be taken by the Costa Wasta
when boiling gahwa slips from vessels;
a thick and heady black decoction
- no honour auction - though it costs you
much more than heyyl and grinding pestles.
Speak softly round the Costa Wasta,
for shuttled words of weft and weaving
are camouflaged in silk relations;
no altercations with imposters,
just sheesha smoking in the evening.
Be watchful on the Costa Wasta,
as backroom contracts bloom sub rosa,
and secret glances can occasion
some quick evasion, soon glossed over,
but unforgiving as a Tosa.
Notes:
Costa Wasta - 'The Nepotism Coast' - Wasta is Arabic for 'influence'.
Khaleej - The Arabian/Persian Gulf (Lit. 'Gulf')
Gahwa - Arabic coffee or 'qaHwa' (as pronounced in the Gulf.
Heyyl - cardomom - used to flavour and perfume Arabic coffee.
Sheesha - the hubbly-bubbly, hookah or nargileh pipe.
Tosa - Japanese breed of fighting dog much favoured in the UAE.
The Costa Wasta