JUST BEFORE SEXT 1971

A YOUNG MAN AND HIS ATTEMPT AT A MONATSIC VOCATION IN 1971

Before the office of Sext,
before lunch,
I had time

in my cell
to have private prayers
or meditation

and stood at the window
and gazed out,
the sky blue,

white clouds,
the abbey visible
from where I stood,

a monk walked across
the garth of grass,
hands hidden

in the huge pockets,
where would you
want me?

She said,
she lay there
semi-clothed,

arms outstretched,
a bell from the clock tower
chimed three quarters,

without us God will not,
Dom Joseph had said
during the novice's talk session,

without God we cannot,  
birds sat on the roof
of the clock tower,

black and proud,
I ran a finger slowly
along her inner thigh,

she giggled,
dribbled,
I closed my eyes,

soon be Sext,
Latin,
short prayers,

then lunch, food,
I lay beside her
parting her hairs.