FOR NONE 1971

A YOUNG MAN IN AN ABBEY IN 1971 HAUNTED BY A WOMAN

The bell tolled
for the office of None,
I walked down the stairs

from my cell,
a monk walked past me,
he said dedúxit me super

sémitas iustítiæ,
she seemed dissatisfied
with sex not enough of it

she had said,
Dom Peter was standing
by the wall of the cloister

gazing at the garth
and green grass,
the bell ceased tolling,

monks came along
from all directions
like black crows for a feast,

He has lead me
onto the paths of justice
I thought the monk

on the stairs had said,
you may slipper me
she said

that sometimes does it
gets me going,
we entered the church

monk by monk,
fingers in the stoup,
holy water,

crossing making
the sign of the Cross,
Hugh, thin faced,

looked at me,
his eyes searching,
vovéte et réddite

Dómino Deo vestro
a monk said,
she had me time after time,

afternoon sun shone
through high windows
warming my head,

fulfil your promises
to the Lord God
a monk whispered,

incense from Mass
in the air,
smell of men's bodies

too close,
I saw her naked
and did as she asked,

bell rope in the cloister,
still unmoving
looking like a donkey's tail,

after None we went
to the garth for tea
and cakes and chat,

Dom Matthew smiled
beside me
like a milk licking cat.