After the meteorite ploughed a crater

into the Kentish Weald

the sky was a black void

of swirling smoke and steam

all the air drawn up into a vortex

like a burning breath. 

Thousands were vaporised where they stood

but Arthur Wellesley agoraphobic

had stayed behind doors

watching X Factor

considering the rising stars

of Simon's galaxy

as the windows blew in.

The last thing Arthur heard

was the wild applause and strobing lights

of a world he thought was real,

the last known witness to 

a masterpiece of the absurd.