Telescopes don’t make good gifts
not like tellies, or drums.
Tellies you can switch off
drums you can bang
say 
“Look at me
I’m here
Hear me!”

But telescopes,
telescopes feed the enquiring mind
with no answers
just starry, starry nights
and black holes
insignificance to the power of 20 12
magnified
through one cold lens

And Science is an empty room
with carbon in the grate
the writing on the wall
that speaks in formulas
not words
the nail in the palm
of the hand that holds the scope

So put away your paper, the scissors and the bow
kneel before your telescope
and cry.