Athanasius Contra Mundum

Athanasius Contra Mundum

Constantius said it first.  It was a sneer—

But history embraced it as high praise.

Against the world in those uncertain days

You stood for what the future would hold dear,

O lonely pillar of the truth!  In fear,

Others adopted temporizing ways.

They would have lost themselves then in the maze

That sprawled throughout the explication sphere.

You saved them – and you did it with a roar.

Politeness was a lie you wouldn’t tell

When faced with doctrines hopeless at their core.

You judged your adversaries by their smell.

You lashed out fiercely at their pointless lore.

The world that you opposed went straight to Hell.

–Tom Riley

Uppercut Not Taken

The Uppercut Not Taken

 

 

You should have punched Obama in the groin
as I instructed. Why can’t pontiffs pay
attention? What a simple way to join
the virile sages of a vanished day!
They say that Athanasius slugged away
at Arius — and I believe the tale.
Was Arius that bad? No way, I say.
He never backed a baby organ sale.
Francis, you disappoint. It’s sad to fail
in duty, so it’s time for you to frown.
But do you? Not at all. Nor do you wail
forth the regret that should be failure’s crown.
You smile as though you think you broke some tape.
Why should you smile? You let that punk escape.

 

 

–Tom Riley