Martha One Afternoon 1965.

A young girl as a novice nun.

Martha was bored.

The nun chose her

to sweep the hall

then polish it

to a nice sheen.

She was sure God

had better tasks

for her to do

than this dull job:

save a few souls

from Hell’s slaughter;

bring others back

from the wrong track;

bring happiness

to the many;

pray for the souls

waiting there in

Purgatory,

where uncle John

probably was.

She swept the hall

half-heartedly,

then polished it

with the slowness

of a dull sloth.

The old nun moaned

of her slowness

(Martha’s that was) 

and that she’d missed

a whole section.

This won't help souls

suffering in

Purgatory

Martha moaned,

and besides it’s

boring as hell,

she had added.

A row began

their voices loud.

Bell rang for None:

time for prayer.

They parted ways,

the nun fuming;

Martha silent,

leaving the nun

out of her prayers,

closing her eyes

so not seeing

the old nun’s glares.