The bell rang for Matins.
The tall thin monk seemed
to glide past me to the church.
The cloister had captured and
held the cold morning. I gazed
into the cloister garth on my
right and saw the flower beds
spread like a carpet. I entered
the church and dipped my finger
in the stoup and made a sign
of the cross and took my place
in the choir stalls. Opposite
monks had gathered in the
5.30am dawn and stood or sat
turning pages of their books
of prayer. Beside and behind
other monks gathered about
me likewise ********* books
for Matins. The abbot knocked
on wood and the chanting
began. The morning sun shone
through high windows and laid
a splash of light on the flagstone
floor. I followed and chanted the
Latin words to mix and blend
with the others. I watched the
sunlight flicker on the floor. I
smelt the incense from Mass
the day before and each day
would come and go and be the
same like an echo down the wind.
I wondered would I stand with
saints or those who sinned.
Sep 3, 2018
Sep 3, 2018 at 3:54 AM UTC
The bell rang for Matins.
The tall thin monk seemed
to glide past me to the church.
The cloister had captured and
held the cold morning. I gazed
into the cloister garth on my
right and saw the flower beds
spread like a carpet. I entered
the church and dipped my finger
in the stoup and made a sign
of the cross and took my place
in the choir stalls. Opposite
monks had gathered in the
5.30am dawn and stood or sat
turning pages of their books
of prayer. Beside and behind
other monks gathered about
me likewise ********* books
for Matins. The abbot knocked
on wood and the chanting
began. The morning sun shone
through high windows and laid
a splash of light on the flagstone
floor. I followed and chanted the
Latin words to mix and blend
with the others. I watched the
sunlight flicker on the floor. I
smelt the incense from Mass
the day before and each day
would come and go and be the
same like an echo down the wind.
I wondered would I stand with
saints or those who sinned.
