The taxi dropped me off
at the end of the drive.
I wanted to walk up
the avenue of trees
to the monastery
and leave the outer world
by a slow walk.
It was September
and the August
warmth remained
and birds flew overhead.
Half way up the drive,
I saw three black robed monks
walking towards me.
I knew them all
from my previous visits.
This time it was to stay
and take my place
amidst them all.
Words of welcome
and enquiries of my health
and state of mind
and humour to relax me
as we entered
the porter's lodge
of the abbey.
A sense
of nervousness
entered me.
The world and its works
left behind and the inner world
of this desert would
shape me and prepare me.
After the introduction
and cheer, a brother took me
to my room or cell
as it was called
and watched and talked
as I unpacked my things.
He studied the books
I unpacked: Story of a Soul,
Confessions of St Augustine,
one Bible and poems of Hopkins.
He left me and said
he would return later for me
for the Office of None;
two others came
so I wasn't alone.
Aug 24, 2018
Aug 24, 2018 at 8:09 AM UTC
The taxi dropped me off
at the end of the drive.
I wanted to walk up
the avenue of trees
to the monastery
and leave the outer world
by a slow walk.
It was September
and the August
warmth remained
and birds flew overhead.
Half way up the drive,
I saw three black robed monks
walking towards me.
I knew them all
from my previous visits.
This time it was to stay
and take my place
amidst them all.
Words of welcome
and enquiries of my health
and state of mind
and humour to relax me
as we entered
the porter's lodge
of the abbey.
A sense
of nervousness
entered me.
The world and its works
left behind and the inner world
of this desert would
shape me and prepare me.
After the introduction
and cheer, a brother took me
to my room or cell
as it was called
and watched and talked
as I unpacked my things.
He studied the books
I unpacked: Story of a Soul,
Confessions of St Augustine,
one Bible and poems of Hopkins.
He left me and said
he would return later for me
for the Office of None;
two others came
so I wasn't alone.
Request permission to use this poem