Galileo 1633

Galileo Galilei, late
of Venice and Padua,
Knelt on the cold stone floor
before the pope
And his friends.

Astronomical order
and heavenly intentions
were the subject
of consideration.

The cold stone 
bit his old knees
and chilled his bones.
His trembling hand
signed the confession
that he had once
thought that the
earth did move
(an absurdity)
and even rotated
(a heresy)
And with this signing
returned him
to God's flock
of chosen ones.

Cleansed of taint,
he rose 
and thanked 
the assemblage
for mercy
in showing his
wayward mind
the One True Faith.

Above,
the crystal orbs
and thrones
and powers
silently
shattered
and
an infinitude
of galactic majesty
flowered.