The Imam of the Créteil Lake parleys with the Commandant come to serve the writ on Ol' Khayyam...

The Ruba’iyat of Créteil Lake – Part Twenty-One

Meantime the Faithful gathered for prayer sans delusions
His Holiness excused himself for the usual ablutions --
The Commandant backtracked to an official car for pow-wow --
Lights dimmed as in-car lights were turned on for inspections

Starch stiff blue-black uniforms and sleek arms rallied round the mosque
Throttled roads with dark coaches and cars loomed rocambolesque
The sullen force trudged in from the east over Our Lady's matted tresses
Town and national route entrances choked with armour in lock

Within the hour as prayer murmur surged up to the dome
Polished cars of expensive make gathered as pious gnome
On sidewalks banks driveways all roadways had chockfull become
Till even the national route alongside to standstill succumb

His Holiness at the forefront of flock strode out in regalia
While all around the standing blocks rose faithful echolalia:
“Our Lord Master of Security bids us thus announce:
In the Name of the People: Habeas Corpus inter alia

“On Sha’ban 27, 1431 A. H. mentions
This writ one miscreant ‘Omar’ given to calculations…”
“STOP!” declaimed the Imam, “I have to proceed with chour!”
And thus turned on his heels to lead the congregations.

© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2014