**************************
The dun air hangs with
fine spray that dries on my brow.
St. Michael bell, stirred from
distant memory of battle, lifts,
strikes and sustains a tone
of sincerity that’s laid upon
this double-minded monkWho in the dark steps alone into
the awful room, for the unbearable
intimacy of straight talk with God.
Choir fills, brightens,
and psalmody begins to flow.
I push off onto its current
tossing up
...distress...
...shortness of life...
...shine on our children...
Its expanse finally crossed,
I looked back ~
None of that was about me alone.
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to hear him recite Lauds
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**************************
Tierce bell, its mother-touch
strokes a tone that softly soaks
in grass and firs.
Urged so, I enter on
the foot-worried floor
crossed by minds
bent on toils already
crowding the day, many
pebbles make the floor,
the floor by pebbles made
...I abide a stranger...
...my eyes to the mountains...
...standing within your gates...
Gone there, gone there ~ how I am here!
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to hear him recite Tierce
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**********************
Under noon’s
high booming sun
the small, neutral bell for Sext
scuttles me to shadeless
space, its spare rank,
its survivor guard
..pressed me hard...
...who could survive...
...my heart’s not proud...
Shall all be well?
Were all things well?
Is anything well?
...very well
...well...
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to hear him recite Sext
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****************
None’s bell
heeded some
heard by none
St. Gabriel’s call
squeezed small
by rush and talk
...in vain do its builders labor...
...I’ll give no sleep to my eyes...
...it seemed like a dream...
When nearly done, I notice I’m doing.
In high smooth curves
long winged birds turn
without a flap
on distant watch.
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to hear him recite None
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*******************
Vesper’s bell dimly
probes a thin
finger down between
sink and showers.
Faint tolling
tugs one up from
towels and socks
through cloister funnel
to door swung large
on sunlit walls and
clarity resounding.
...heavens proclaim...
...utmost bounds...
...walk all round it...
Groundhog, raised on his haunches,
gazes around.
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to hear him recite Vespers
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******************
Compline’s ring:
clarification, clarification,
eases a way into
shaded grove of monks standing.
...in the shadow of your wings...
...the plague that prowls in the darkness...
...with length of life I will content him...
Angelus tolls for you
banished child returned,
returned to clemency.
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to hear him recite Compline
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******************
Big St. Mary bell’s
rings all wrested
from its belly rocks
to a halt,
done
all be rested
frets begone
done
monk
be done.
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to hear him recite Final Bell
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*****************
3:00 a.m.
The ever wakeful Vigil bell
spreads the silent air with unsleep,
that carries round to walls and barns
which smoothes it to a stream
that sets coyote howling
and monks to prayer.
Father Sacristan bursts upon
the darkened church, bustles
loudly, clearing his throat,
enough to evict lurking demons
from shadows and corners.
...tear out their fangs...
...they gabble open mouthed...
...daughters graceful as columns...
~ awake, wide awake once more ~
all these histories: God’s own dreams and nightmares.
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to hear him recite Vigils
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