BORN IN SIN 1971

A YOUTH IN AN ABBEY 1971

Ecce enim in
iniquitáte generátus sum,
et in peccáto concépit
me mater mea,

and the cloister
smelt of incense,

the mulberry tree sheltered us
at teatime on the garth,

the theologian monk
slipped his tea as anyone else
speaking of Aquinas,

I sipped tea gazing
at the Hugh drawn-faced
mouthing his tea,

furrow browed,

Gerald spoke of Wittgenstein
over his cup of brew,

you can have me
she said any which way
you please,

rain in the distance,
dark clouds,

biscuits on plates
on the trolley,

the French monk took one
and ate it
with such delicacy,

I fingered the rosary
in my pocket,
the silver Christ
smooth on fingertips,

she flower like,
blossoming before me,

I was born in sin as all are,

the bell chimed a quarter
from the clock tower,

we sipped beneath
the mulberry tree,

ate biscuits,

sipped dark tea.

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

A mystery clouds this write on sins and her

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, andrew