Stanza 28


28

Now while the driver hurries to fulfill
The ayatollah's manifested will,
Through Musa's heart exhilaration flows
Because by fatherhood his stature grows
And now he is accepted as a peer
By men who never let him interfere
In matters of such consequence before.
So as they exit through the open door
And squeeze into the car the sayyid brought,
The central sentiment in Musa's thought
Is that he must take care to represent
His village and not set a precedent
That will result in disrepute or shame.
Before too long the men approach their aim
And were directed by marines on guard
At the front gate, which further progress barred,
To park and exit from the vehicle.
The five Iraqi men comply in full
And Ibrahim requests, "Could we confer
Today with your commanding officer?"