HELP ME GROW MCMLXXI

A YOUTH IN AN ABBEY IN 1971 HAUNTED BY A WOMAN

The priest suggested
I read Gerard Hopkins' poems
so I took a copy
to the abbey,

verbum Dei,

inside and out
in books
in souls
God speaks,

what I know
of the divine science
and holy scripture
I learnt
in the woods and fields
Bernard said,

hold me closer
she said
I want to feel
you enter,

I mowed the grass
by the church wall
and Dom Robert said
none do it like you,

Hugh brought
the meals into
the refectory
on the trolley
his thin lips
showed no joy,

Dieu est ici
the French monk said
touching his chest
with a tap of his hand,

viviamo per amare
the Italian monk said
as we walked
from church
to the garth
for afternoon tea,

she lay beside me
her hand touching
my pecker with skill,

charity must not
remain shut up
in the depths
of the heart
said Therese,

faith is an act of will
clinging to God
no matter how
we feel Bruno said,

the abbey bell tolled
echoing along
the cloister
as I walked to my room,

love is the joy
of the good
and the wonder
of the wise
said Gareth
quoting Plato,

I closed my eyes
hoping an extra prayer
would help me grow.