FELT ALL DONE MCMLXXI

A YOUTH HAUNTED BY A WOMAN IN AN ABBEY IN 1971

The taxi dropped me off
as the bell for Compline tolled,

veni creátor Spíritus,

best go to the church
because that's where
the monks'll be
a guy said
so I went into the church
February 68 that was
first time,

la casa di Dio,

red lamp at altar end
and a few lights
by the choir stalls
and a monk walked by
genuflected
and walked on by
to ring the bells again,

she had that sway of hips
and a nice butt
and I swam
into her deep seas,

Dom Joe said
have you eaten?
no I said
so he took me
to the refectory
and got me macaroni cheese
and hot cocoa
and sat talking
about the monastic life,

Dio chiama ma pochi risposta,

smell of incense
and hot bread
and smell of flowers
from the cloisters,  

kiss me she said
there there so I did,

non introíbo
in tabernáculum
domus meæ,

listen and attend
with the ear of your heart
said Benedict
saint that is,

Hugh folded the napkins
with the carefulness
of a maiden
with the deep set eyes
of a seaman,

prier pour Dieu
dans la vérité
the French monk said
as he walked with me
to the chapter house,

moonlight and stars
and shadows
where the clositer walls
on the outside
allowed in light,

it is not enough
to have a good mind
the main thing is
to use it well
said Gareth
quoting Descartes
as we sat in the novice's room
awaiting Dom James,

plough my field
she said
sow seeds,

the bell tolled
over the cloisters
and it was getting dark
and Compline was ending,

making the sign
of the cross
as we entered church,

but that was later
in 71,
seeking through darkness
and felt all done.