GALILEO GALILEI

With majestic certainty
I ‘m sure the earth revolves around the sun
and not the other way around.

After viewing-never-before-seen stars,
my astronomical findings tell me so.

Threatened with heresy
and Torquemada’s techniques,

I prefer not to be impaled
from orifice to orifice,
drowned in the water cure,
or have my body
torn apart on the rack.

While the Pope waves
to a crowd of the faithful,

and the clarity of bronze bells
of the church ring out
in a balanced carillon,

I regretfully recant,
and agree to:

“Abjure, curse and detest”
everything that as a scientist

I found out to be true.