The Police Enquiry

“Out of the fifteen days I’ve only twelve days, ” Thus Bernadette counted The days those remained. When she was at home, A policeman had come, And took her for enquiry About her Cavern Lady. She was taken before A senior man, Vital Dutour, The Imperial Prosecutor, Who tried to corner her. He accused, “You’ve made This town people mad, And they’re too crazy To see your Lady.” “You’re doing all this To get more favors From the rich people, It appears so simple.” “If I put you in jail Will it not spoil Your own good name, And bring you shame? “You’re a student, But not so prudent To better your career And brighten your future.” He used soft words And also harsh words In between his advice For her to become wise. But she took him lightly, And replied him politely, As she had nothing to fear When the Lady was with her. If she had told that her Lady Resembled like Virgin Mary, A case for blasphemy Could be framed easily. But she maintained And told till the end That never did her Lady Look like Virgin Mary When he told her not to go She told him, “I’ve to go As the Lady had invited her Everyday to go o’er there.” Outside, the public gathered At the police, they jeered, And started behaving wild, For arresting a poor child, Francois, in the meantime, To the police station came, And he begged the prosecutor, To pardon and release her. The prosecutor warned him To keep her locked at home And not to send her out To face any police’s arrest. As the girl was a minor, The Imperial Prosecutor, Couldn’t fix her up in a case That, in fact, had no base. The church didn’t support her, As once the Reverend Father Made a complaint to check her As the Diocese couldn’t interfere. She suffered humiliation Yet, in her determination She was firm to go there, The Lady’s invitation to honor.