"A Reflective Poem While Studying Abroad in Dubai: I AM ABROAD" by Marcus Forkay
Observation:
I wouldn’t dare ask myself where I am going or what’s to come. Only my mother knows. I wouldn’t worry about where or when to get new shoes, for only my father knows. I AM BECOMING. I await conditions. Will they be in my favor? This is a reflection of the Middle Eastern mind. I am an open book whose pages have been written by Anonymous, edited by his brother, and co-written by the parrot on his shoulder. I get no advance. My circumstances were made for me, whether erroneous or genuine, so I’m advised to play. This is Dubai. Play because my forefathers asked that of me. Play because I have time. I play because I have my worries, and they will not change for me alone. Will I win? I play the victim here, the villain there, a king, a peasant, a seamstress, a doctor, a mastermind. I play because I can. That’s what was asked of me until further notice.
Photo credit: Forkay, 2025.
Creative Outlook:
My time in the majority Muslim city of Dubai is exhilarating. I live on campus with remarkable peers and classmates at The American University in Dubai who are compassionate and tolerant of my Western ways. I have been to the beach, desert, literary convention, rock climbing, etc., but what excites me most is the study and history of the Muslim and Arab people. The poem is my reflection on the observations I’ve had. The images above add to the description. Camels are often noted in the Quran and Islamic Poetry. The reference is to a journey. I see the journey in bodies all around me. Traditional garbs are worn, and the clothes reflect religious and spiritual influence. Allegories are often used to describe situations. Family is of utmost importance. Also, societal expectations are crucial to individual development. I’m enjoying my time here in Dubai.
Marcus Forkay is a student studying abroad in the Spring 2025 on Amideast’s Direct Enroll at the American University in Dubai program in Dubai, UAE.
