The end of the world was shiny and worthwhile.
No panic - the few riots
Went off like disappointing fireworks.
Tramps rose from the gutters
And became people again,
Going into unlocked houses, trying on coats
And feeding pets.
At call centres and phone exchanges
Good eggs worked
Round the clock
So others could call their loved ones
And say goodbye.
And everywhere people had sex
That was not about the sex
But love
And clammy warmth.
At T minus
One hour
I met an ex-girlfriend,
my ex-girlfriend,
walking down an unlit street.
We shook hands.
We looked at each other.
I said, 'Thanks
Very much.
We had fun,
Didn't we?'
She smiled -
When the nod came
She seemed to do it
With her whole body.
'We had fun,'
She said.
Beneath a sky
Torn with comets
We hugged.
Our faces were hot,
Defaulting on grins
As if we'd just had sex
But
Like I said
It wasn't about the sex.
