Half Right

Dec 15 2011

The end of the world came

and went.

He had proclaimed the date,

then fretfully awaited

the apocalypse.

The second time he’d missed.

Just half wrong,

because the world will end
it's the date that eludes him.

If not divine intervention, then tectonic change
if he lives that long,

in a cosmic fireball

burst of gamma rays.

So all his worldly goods

are gone

and he must rely on providence.

The kindness of strangers
the grace of God.

Skyscrapers hum, streets are bustling

the sturm und drang.
Intrigues of the schoolyard

going on and on.

So while he adds up the begats

parses prophecy,

interrogates Scripture

for hints and signs,

the world is indifferent

the end is nigh.

He will predict again;

sure, this time.

If only he had realized

that with every death

a universe ends.

So he will be half right

6 billion times.