DANCING

You don't see angels much now because

In 1285, on his twentieth birthday,

Duns Scotus wondered how many of them

Could dance on the head of a pin.

The angels wondered too and, clubbing

Their meagre savings, bought a pin

One started dancing a pavanne,

More and more climbed on, no two of them

Doing the same steps until Uriel and Jibrial

Invented the waltz. Soon after,

The fallen angels arrived, breathless,

And introduced line dancing. Turns out

A pinhead provides ample room for

All the angels that are or were or could be

Since they've location but no mass.

God assumes that, in time, the angels

Will tire of dancing and resume

Obeying His behests.

                            

                       (Some say the angels 

Don't dance on the head of a pin

But on its point. This is, of course, nonsense.

Where would the musicians sit and where

Would you find space for the buffet?)