
Aglanceleadstoasmile,asmiletoarendezvous∶everylovestorybeginsthesameway.Thesenarrativesarestoredinsongsandpoemsandliveonbeyondtheirinevitableendings,asShakespeare’stitularsonnet18alsosuggests.InMohammadShawkyHassan’smetafictionalessay,afemalenarratorwhowishestotellthestoryofalovebetweentwomenencountersapolyamorouschorusoflovers,andthisoft-toldtaleismultiplied.InClubScheherazade,thereisnoprotagonist,andeverysonghasvariousversions.Heteronormativedramaturgyischallengedpolyphonicallyandacrossarangeofmedia∶loversaskeachotheraboutthreesomes,Grindrcontactsandpastdates.Popclichésaretwisted,heartachepermeatesthemen’ssinging,andpoemsbyWadihSaadeharereadoutwhilealover’sdirtylaundryisaired.Thenarratormischievouslytriesforahappyendingashercharactersexitthestory.Ifpaincouldbeforgottenthroughwords,wehearatonepoint,noloverwouldeverhavetowalkawaywounded.
