U.A. Fanthorpe, Not the Millennium

Wise men are busy being computer-literate.

There should be a law against confusing

Religion with mathematics.

There was a baby. Born where?

And when? The sources mention

Massacres, prophecies, stars;

They tell a good story, but they don’t agree.

So we celebrate at the wrong midnight.

Does it matter? Only dull science expects

An accurate audit. The economy of heaven

Looks for fiestas and fireworks every day,

Every day.

Be realistic, says heaven:

Expect a miracle.

From U.A. Fanthorpe, Christmas Poems (Enitharmon Press, 2002), p. 61

1 Comment

  1. Andrew Kleissner
    Dec 29, 2016

    That’s not one I know, although I have used her “BC:AD” on several occasions, including at our Midnight Service this Christmas.

    I think she liked the word “dull” – this poem mentions “dull science” while mine has “dull peace”!

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