After the Comet

Things aren't always what they seem..

Ad-ma was a techno, and he worked for Magno Rep.,

Logging vagaries of asteroids, their orbits, speed and depth,

On the eastern shore of Atalan, his villa on the shore

He would plot triangulations, mapping comets by the score,

But his brow was creased with worry,

And his eyes were ringed with black,

For he hadn't slept these many nights

Since Agnar Kor's attack,

It had suddenly appeared from Outer

Space that gave it birth,

And the dark and dread conclusion was

It would collide with earth.

 

It was known as an erratic, potent wanderer through space,

But its orbit wasn't constant, it had been quite hard to trace,

For a week or more it could be seen, quite naked to the eye,

With its tail like whirling serpents lighting up the evening sky,

While at Ba-ha-ma the experts

Had been working on the core,

Of the huge magnetic pulser that

Might save the earth once more,

Set electrostatic charges to

Repulse the comet's head,

Change its course of pure destruction

Or the folk on earth were dead.

 

Ad-ma told his lovely partner, Neve, to pack their clothes and things,

He would take her to Ba-ha-ma, check the huge magnetic rings,

She was almost six months pregnant, would the baby still be born?

If they had to die together, they would pass within the storm

That the impact of the comet

The destructive Agnar Kor

Would unleash upon the planet

Like some planetary war,

Though if Ad-ma's calculations

Were of any use at all,

He'd beat off the dreadful comet,

Like some great magnetic ball.

 

They took off before the sunset to give purpose to his plan,

It was just an hour's flight across the breadth of Atalan,

But the pulser overheated, and the core it fairly glowed

And the scientists all panicked, quit the plant and hit the road,

There was no place they could run to

But they panicked all the same,

So when Ad-ma came to help them

All his plans went down the drain.

He took Neve back into safety in

The plane and slammed the door,

Got to 50,000 feet, to head

Away from Agnar Kor.

 

They had been aloft an hour when the comet hit the earth,

And the shock was so horrific, Neve had almost given birth,

But they watched the earth beneath them stagger, shift, and turn around

As the seas rose in a column, swept across the solid ground,

And their Atalan was wasted,

Buried underneath the sea,

As the storms destroyed the life

Of every forest, every tree,

All the continents were shattered

Every tribe that went before,

They had vanished in a moment

In the rage of Agnar Kor.

 

Ad-ma turned the plane due east, and flew until their fuel fell

'Til they came upon a place where land rose up above the swell,

Then he put it down as gently as he could upon the plain

Where the rivers bubbled brightly, and the soil was moist with rain,

Neve had stumbled from the aeroplane

And cried in wild relief,

'God has brought us to salvation,

We must strengthen our belief!'

Ad-ma smiled and said, 'This place is good

We'll build ourselves a town,

And I'll plant you hanging gardens

When the waters all go down.

 

So they settled in the country, and the earth, it settled down,

And they built their hanging gardens, and a palace in the town,

And they joined their names together so they'd never think to leave

So their children would be happy, they were known as Ad-ma Neve,

While the waters still lie over

What was once called Atalan,

And a great magnetic pulser

Water cooled, lies under sand,

Dragging vessels to the bottom

In a mystery, long gone,

While they called their baby's birthplace,

(Neve's idea) - Baby-lon.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Norma J. Jessee]

Fantastic..................... Love this . You just keep getting better.
Master Story teller. Each time I read one of your poems I think, "He'll never be able to top this." But you do. You come up with the most fantastic tales and weave them in such a way that I almost believe they are true. You are a fantastic writer, David. You imagination and writing abilities never ceases to amaze me . Keep em coming.

[Colorado Brian]

I could not have said it better myself. Perfect review.

[Mysty Rayn]

You are an unbelievable poet and story teller. This is truly brilliant. You imagination and way with words is so unique. You have become a favorite of mine.

[Silent Kim aka mizmetap..]

Different from your usual writes, not as intriging, but none the less it is still good. I may be predjudice and just like the stories you write with the off beat tales of love, decite and con, the old fashion sound in your words. I didn't feel this one like I usually do, I didn't feel the thrill that I've gotten from your other writes. It's okay it doesn't take from your talent it is definitly in this piece, me I just couldn't get into this story.

[C.T. Bailey]

Perfect. You have connected the dots for all of humanity! How is it possible that one can link the Triangle, Babylon, the final end of the Earth all together? Pretty easy if you are David Paget. Just another brilliant piece of writing. You continue to inspire me. Another one for my favorites.
Todd

[☮]

You have a passion for effortlessly intermingling facts, poetry, rhyme and history into a beautiful song. Always impressed!

[Michael X]

David, I agree with Norma Jean, you have stories down with rhythm
and colorful creative ambition in success and deliverance,
this was a sci fi adventure that surely sweeps the reader along,
the details bring the motive to life, the rhyme form is captivating.

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

I Love the way you write with humor, history, and fiction in the perfect blend to make your stories so readable and
entertaining. Great write.
Be blessed
Debby

[Wildfleour]

I always wondered where the name Babylon came from. Finally - case solved! ;)

Now if only someone could explain why our body parts were given such awful names..........

[Valentine]

David, you are so darn clever...I can't figure out just where all of you terrific ideas come from..Some from history, some from twisting history and you do it in a rhyming way of unique story telling of which you are a master..I think there is no other story teller on site that can make up a rhyming tale as great as you do..The Master of Story Telling David..God bless and keep them coming..Valentine

[Charles D. Moorer]

This too is well written. You are quite the story teller. You have these wonderful allusions that are historical in nature but current as well. An interesting take on Andam and Eve, Eden?