Christmas at Copenhagen

(With Apologies to Luke 2)

William Loader

There were scientists abiding in their fields keeping watch over their stocks day and night.
And data began to appear to them and they were sore afraid.

And the data said to them, “Fear not! For behold I show you a future that can be different.
For unto you is born this year in the city of Copenhagen an opportunity to set things aright.
And this will be the sign for you: among other things you will see future generations
wrapped in despair through drought and failing crops.”

And suddenly there was with the data a host of measurements
confirming serious increase in green house gasses in the heavens,
saying if there is to be peace on earth, there must be goodwill among all peoples.  

And the scientists said to their governments:
“Let us go to Copenhagen, to see what can be done about this thing that is taking place.”
So they made haste and came to Copenhagen
and found that others had seen the data just as they had, with the future lying wrapped in uncertainty.
They made known to each other what their data had told them and they were amazed.

And earth treasured all these things in its heart and hoped for fourteen days.
And when the time had come to give birth to a solution, there was no room.
The earth gave birth to a scarcely formed idea, wrapped it in cautious formulations
and laid it in an accord among the stable of animals.

The scientists went back to their fields distraught for all they had heard and seen,
but some gave thanks that an idea at least was born.
A decree went out from the earth that carbon from all the world should registered
and so began a journey toward goodwill among all who long for peace and love the earth and its people.

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