Papal Bull

In the year 1582,
by way of papal
bull(sh-nicker),
New Year’s Day
was moved to
the Dead of Winter,
after being celebrated
on April 1
for practically ever;
on or about the
Springtime Equinox.
Makes perfect sense:
new beginnings and
all that.

One rumor has it
that those who
played the rebel
and flew the vernal bird
under the Pope’s
should-have-minded-
his-own-damn-business
needlenose
were called
April Fools.

Clowning and trickery
ensued, to rattle
the righteous order.
Which is why I declare that
clowns and tricksters
everywhere
should seize the day
from the Popery
and start our year,
um,
yesterday.