Eschatology

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.