Year of the Palindrome ...

Forgive me for posting two pieces so close together , I think I’ve got to much time on my hands…

( For this one to work you have to check and change the maths every year )

2nd February 2020 ( 02 02 2020 )

If the importance of this date passed you by,

then just like me,

You’d be unaware that it won’t happen again,

for nearly a century,

And it hadn’t happened previously,

for nearly a millennium,

So here are a list of facts and figures that,

I’ve arranged in a short compendium.

It’s been over 900 years,

since the last global numerical palindrome ,

Back then they were still fighting the wars of the crusades,

And Henry the fifth was the holy emperor of Rome.

The year was 1111,

the date was 11th November,**

And It will happen again in 97 years,

In 2121 on the 12th of December" (12 12 21 21 )

The 11th of the 11th 1111 was a Sunday,

As the records clearly tell,

And the 2nd of the 2nd 2020,

Took place on a Sunday as well

Now 2020 was a leap year,

as I’m sure you people know,

The 2nd of February was the 33rd day,

with 333 still to go.

But wait, say those of you, with a mathematical bent,

Surely the following year there was a palindromic event,

The 12th of February 2021, ( 12.02.2021 )

It reads the same backwards, it must definitely be one.

..

It’s definitely a palindrome, on that we agree

But I’m afraid it doesn’t work globally,

You see we put, day month and year, to record the date

But they do it differently over in the states.

They put the month at the front, and as you can see,

When you do that, it reads differently, ( 02.12.2021 )

In China they choose to put the year first,

actually if you do that , the palindrome still works. ( 2021 12.02 )

But to satisfy mathematicians, all around the globe,

It has to be a truly universal palindrome,

I’m afraid it’s a 97 year wait, until the next one comes along,

That’s the 12th of December 2121. (12 12 21 21)

And by then we will all be dead.

** footnote,

11.11.1111. This is the only date , throughout history,

when all the digits are the same.