SINGING AT THE SINK 1971

A YOUTH IN AN ABBEY IN 1971 HAUNTED BY A WOMAN

Extra Ecclesiam
Augustine said no salvation,  

a cobweb hung in the cloister
between the corners
and over coloured glass,

orange brick caught by sunlight
seemingly yellow,

for it is in giving
that we receive Francis said,

I washed dishes in the sink
by the kitchen of the abbey
Gareth dried talking of Wittgenstein,

let us imagine she said
that we are making love
as my husband walks in,

Dieu voit tout
the French monk said
as he raked the earth
by the vegetable bed,

bring me a handful of cabbages
Dom Thomas said so I did,

the bell chimed from the cloister clock
a quarter in God's time,

Hugh spoke of footsteps
before Matins go by his door loudly
not me I said,

the bell tower Heaven pointing
it seemed from the path,

the peasant monk scythed
the tall grass with his slow
but firm motions
cracher sur vos paumes he said,

I spat on my palms
but still blisters came,

shaft me to the bed she said,

George and I tolled bells for Mass
he smiled with joy as he pulled,

for the sake of silence
we are to abstain even
from good talk Benedict said,

Dom Joseph sat and eyed me
and smiled and said
God understands more than we think,

I sipped wine as she stood
butt naked singing
at the kitchen sink.