The bell tolled
for the office of None,
I walked down the stairs
from my cell,
a monk walked past me,
he said dedúxit me super
sémitas iustítiæ,
she seemed dissatisfied
with *** not enough of it
she had said,
Dom Peter was standing
by the wall of the cloister
gazing at the garth
and green grass,
the bell ceased tolling,
monks came along
from all directions
like black crows for a feast,
He has lead me
onto the paths of justice
I thought the monk
on the stairs had said,
you may slipper me
she said
that sometimes does it
gets me going,
we entered the church
monk by monk,
fingers in the stoup,
holy water,
crossing making
the sign of the Cross,
Hugh, thin faced,
looked at me,
his eyes searching,
vovéte et réddite
Dómino Deo vestro
a monk said,
she had me time after time,
afternoon sun shone
through high windows
warming my head,
fulfil your promises
to the Lord God
a monk whispered,
incense from Mass
in the air,
smell of men's bodies
too close,
I saw her naked
and did as she asked,
bell rope in the cloister,
still unmoving
looking like a donkey's tail,
after None we went
to the garth for tea
and cakes and chat,
Dom Matthew smiled
beside me
like a milk licking cat.