It was a big event when a new sun

bowled in to the Milky Way

brash and flash promising the Earth, a new deal,

becoming hot news on the world wide web

a more considerate climate for everyone

encouraging life on other planets,

altogether a new dawn. 

 

After the blackout panic

a brief period of adjustment came when

archbishops imams rabbis and other heads of religion

offered contrition which was presumably accepted,

the new sun beamed on everyone. 

All the henges and high hills were a sea of white cloaks

simple folk taking the knee, sometimes both.. 

 

In the meantime our old life-giving orb slunk away

soon missed by no one apart from a few anorak stargazers. 

All was well, the world rejoiced from caves to palaces

spears were thrown, fusillades of champagne corks released

new rules of engagement officially adopted. 

 

Professor Brian Cox admitted he didn't predict

this one in many lifetimes event,

but smiled inanely, reached for his black book of contacts,

a reliable alternative to the insecure internet,

considered a comeback concert in Glastonbury.

 

All was well for a time

until the new big sun as it came to be called

decided to teach the Earth a lesson,

insufficient homage being the excuse it was said.

 

It played a few tricks, messed with the poles

spun about, twerked and laughed flames;

islands were lost, species wiped out, the internet interrupted,

Sir David Attenborough had to convert his new solar panels. 

 

Finally the Pope who had never given up hope of salvation

with one eye on the book of exorcisms

begged the Old Sun to return,

promised to pray harder and to unify all religions. 

"Come back old sun" he pronounced in Italian,"Ci Manchi."

Sadly the orb was no more having committed celestial suicide

by deep freeze in a far distant inhospitable black hole.