The Millennial Passing. Poem by Bryan Sefton

Usher it in with gay abandon
Write it down and make it so
As truthful now as it was then
A good full thousand years ago

Blow your trumpets, light your beacons
Set them blazing, rage the glow
Tell the world with klaxon callings
We're once again at treble 0

Paths to the first are documented
The history books contain it all
The lessons there are for the learning
To guarded against repeat pitfall

But they've been there for many ages
Still the wars have raged and burned
Few men flicked amongst the pages
Fewer still the lessons learned

Did they dance, carousel and revel
Celebrate? No doubt they did
Did they eulogise its passing
Or just exalt at being rid

Perhaps a few drank apprehensive
Perhaps a few there shunned the fun
Perhaps a few had trickled warnings
Of all the horror that was to come

I too will celebrate the passing
Drape bunting from the lamps and trees
I will drink more than is needed
Just to quell this strange unease

On looking back to choose a symbol
I think that I will choose a wreath
As the millennial body totters
Falls and dies debauched with death