BELLS AGAIN 1971

A YOUTH IN AN ABBEY IN 1971 HAUNTED BY A WOMAN

Dei intra vos est,

the cloister was cold
that evening I huddle
in the thick jumper,

the monk in front of me
smelt of pine or I think
it was pine,

la campana suon�™,

who tolled it
I had no idea maybe
Dom Leo
tall and lean as an elm,

roger me well she said
for you are
as a young deer,

full of God that is
the beauty of eternal life
Bruno said,

we walked the flagstones
into the church
fingered the stoup
for water and crossed
ourselves wetly,

holiness consists
simply in doing
God's will and being
just what God wants us
to be Therese said,

I stood beside Hugh
in the choir stall
book held black and old
smelling of age,

lauda Ierúsalem
Dóminum colláuda
Deum tuum Sion
we chanted
I mouthed words unsure,

the French monk
held his head to one side
gazing at high windows
as if God was there,

où vous coeur est Dieu est,

my stomach rumbled with hunger
like a rebellious mob,

moonlight in the cloister view
and stars few,

open me as a book she said
touch my fine pages,

God is within you
Dom Joseph said
listen to Him,

I liked the smell
of fresh bread
as I entered the refectory
and the scent of cocoa
before bed called,  

wise men speak
because they have
something to say
fools because they
have to say something
Plato said Gareth quoted
as we walked the abbey lane,

nearby someone
tolled the bells again.