Zhen, the Eldest Son of Qian, is rudely woken to stir the elements in this late spring, and he roars through the hillocks and dales, rousing the avi-fauna inhabitants in terror over Embryo Islet and the Public Isle.

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

A chill-marrow scowling wind rushed up abysms of the South
Rumpled Lady Lake’s sparse dripping tresses splashing up Our Lady's mouth
Gushing fountain raced down the waterfall crumpling eye-lashes
And slurped the choppy tide into swishing slopping mammoth

Trillion cursing harpy screams raged down her full furrowed loins
And set feathers wildly clapping where Embryo Islet joins
Pubic Isle: aborted marsh of reeds and rushes cypress grave
Where now the avi-fauna scatter chased by mythic Tiglons

Some alien monster wild has escaped its abysmal rest
And shakes and shatters the moribund year as if in jest
Doors slam windows swing and crack as the beast goes howling past
Is Zhen the Eldest Son still snug in autumn’s arms as guest?

Over the stranded cases of milling flesh cracks a rude blast
Has Qian woken up his heir with the thunder clap at last?
Was it the fire-cracker to summon false Fire Horse Year?
Something’s let loose in this air bodes no omen fair to last!

The Commandant retraced heavy steps to the Chief’s guarded car
Tense reddened eyes sought relenting signs in faces wrought by far
Yet who in all this surging melée gave a thought to the Bard
Oh! Where might Ol’ Khayyam be hiding! Alone! Or on some star!

© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2013