A Satanic Verse

All are unanimous
in saying
"There was a fairly large library
at Iskundria in Egypt
containing
between five and seven thousand books
papyri, leaves, parchments"
[which is pretty large
considering literacy wasn't universal
then as now]
"on topics in
chemistry
astronomy
irrigation
engineering
physics
philosophy
the religions etc"
Omar son-of-Aas
Conqueror, asked:
"What is to be done with books?"

The edict says:
"If they contain Islam we don't need them
And if they are contrary to Islam again we don't need them
LET THEM BURN"
Only Ali humbly said
Knowledge glosses knowledge

It was a cold winter
So he went unheard
The books were fairly
and equitably divided
between the thousand hot water baths
Of Alexandria: nose, toes, face and arse
were kept well-warmed.


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