ONCE BEFORE NONE.

MONKS BEFORE THE OFFICE OF NONE IN 1971.

The young monk
stood in the cloister,
half in shade,
half in light;

his thin hands
hidden
in the wide
black sleeves

of his habit.
Three black robed monks
met me
on the narrow road

to the abbey.
A bell tolled
from the bell tower,
loud and clear

over the fields,
disturbing birds
from trees.
An old monk,

bony,
sickened,
knelt in a prayer
on his frail knees.