Ruba'i for Khayyam

In honour of Omar Khayyam (1048-1131)

At once I heard that god had come again,
petitioning the hearts of all his men,
to be as abject slaves to every law,
that could never hold water now nor then.

I saw Omar then standing at the gate;
a smile on his face and food on his plate.
I asked of the sage whether he was scared,
for god had come again to forge our fate.

"My boy," he said reclining on the floor,
"this god is somewhat lacking in encore."
"How could he ever hope to come again,"
"if that old god was never here before?"

"And say to those fools, who come in his name,"
"to show us a sign that bolsters their claim."
"Since I am not impressed by man-made wars;"
"both their crimes and feats, I view them the same."

-o0o-

In the style of Omar Khayyam:

Look not above, there is no answer there;
Pray not, for no one listens to your prayer;
Near is as near to God as any Far,
And Here is just the same deceit as There." (#78)

"And do you think that unto such as you;
A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew:
God gave a secret, and denied it me?--
Well, well, what matters it? Believe that, too!" (#85)

"Did God set grapes a-growing, do you think,
And at the same time make it sin to drink?
Give thanks to Him who foreordained it thus--
Surely He loves to hear the glasses clink!" (#91)

as translated from the Persian by Richard Le Gallienne.