The Convent at Cape Fury

The Convent at Le Cap Fureur

Lies empty, by the sea,

Its ancient walls a grim despair

Of anonymity,

No more the chants of singing Nuns

To vespers, weave their way,

A thousand years of heartfelt prayers

In silence, drift away.

 

The Sisterhood of Sainte Bernice

Is cloistered there no more,

The end came in a fury from

The world outside, at war,

The Nuns were fasting, deep in Lent,

When soldiers came across

To find each sister worshipping

The Stations of the Cross.

 

No godly men were in their ranks

No thoughts of sin or Christ,

The Nuns were raped and beaten in

Some pagan sacrifice,

The Abbess stood with arms outstretched

And prayed, ‘Forgive them not!’

Was taken to the courtyard where

The sergeant had her shot.

 

There’s blood still on those convent walls

It leaches out at Lent,

Runs down the walls of dim-lit halls

And stains the grey cement,

We lodged there late one April night

Myself, Joylene and Drew,

Lay staring at the stars above

As round us, silence grew.

 

We slept within those hallowed walls

Until I woke in fright,

And roused the others, ‘Come and see

This strange and fearful sight!’

For out there in the entrance hall

We heard a weird chant,

And two long lines of Nuns approached

To keep their covenant.

 

Two lines of candles in the dark,

The Nuns wore hoods and cowls,

And as each candle flickered out

Their chant gave way to howls.

Screams and pleas then filled the air,

The sound of steel-capped boots,

A pagan army from the east

Of rough and raw recruits.

 

Joylene was in hysterics by

The time this vision went,

And Drew was praying loudly on

That final day of Lent,

We grabbed our things, rushed out and then

We heard a single shot,

The blood-stained Abbess blocked our way

And cried: ‘Forgive them not!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

What perfect storytelling for this time of year!

[Leigh]

History and imagination weaved into one makes a brilliant story from you, as usual an amazing standard of workmanship and attention to detail. I find your ongoing creativity truly inspiring and a great reference point to say the least.

[Tom]

An atmospheric chiller in keeping with Halloween as it steadfastly approaches !

[Strider Marcus Jones]

Epic storytelling poetry. 100/100

[TPK Stories]

A chilling tale ... I didn't expect the ending ...

[Michael G. Smith]

Awesome gripping tale of terror as only you can tell.

[Tate Morgan]

Man this was really well done. I suppose many a time we have heard such things.Only to dismiss them amongst thew chatter of the news. Yours is a mind like no other.

[Marie]

CHuilling...
I thought nums were about forgiveness...though I understand the Abbess in this case...

[Anand Sehgal]

wonderful story telling with historical touches.