OUT OF NIGHT 1971

A YOUTH IN AN ABBEY HAUNTED BY A WOMAN 1971

Deus accepto fert lumine,

the room was warm
I stood by a radiator
reading a book
by Abbot Marion hard covered,

from the window I saw
the French monk walk
a slow pace through the cloisters,

when one loves
one does not calculate
Therese said,

the book smelt of dampness
aged and as I turned the pages
my fingers sensed it,

touch me here she said
you can bring me to joy,

the bell from the cloister
by the refectory door tolled
Hugh held the rope dull looking,

Deus est lumen nostrum,

sunlight brightened the staircase
as I descended
to go to work in the church
polish stalls,

we are twice armed
if we fight with faith
Gareth said quoting Plato
as we walked to the refectory
after the office of Sext,

George looked cold
in the choir stall
he rubbed his hands
the smell of polish
met the incense from mass,

my husband is away for the day
she said come make me,

the tall church tower
orange stoned even in sunlight,

molehills in the monk's cemetery
Dom Frederick said I saw you
clear them with concern,

wind in the trees around me
voices of the dead maybe I thought,

seuls les moines sont ensemble
the French monk said
yet together he added
in English eyeing me,

let us go now Hugh said
supper is about to be served
and I went my stomach
calling within me,

I kissed each part of her
as a wind blessing,

God brings us light
brings us out of night.