HANGING THERE

A MONK AND A NOVICE IN A MONASTERY IN 1971

He sweeps the cloister,
the old monk,
with a wide broom,

shuffling, pushing.
I feel the morning breeze
hit me as I walk

from stairs to church
along the same cloister;
she had whispered

in my ears
sexual suggestions
unfulfilled.

A cobweb hangs
in the church's
high gallery

like a thread
of a seamstresses' hair,
hanging there.

Reviews

[I Am Svetlana]

This was an interesting piece, but the thought that just came to me was that the cobweb could represent how much time had passed since the man had last been there with that woman. How much time had passed for him to realize that he probably made the best decision for himself by not letting the woman have her way with him. It's always nice to go back to a certain place after so many years and see if or how it's changed.

[Terry Collett]

Thank you for your insightful comment, Svetlana.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Terry, I wish I could tell you how much I love this...your closing lines just took my breath away!

[Terry Collett]

That is good to know, Kelly. Thank you.