Once more to my church. Breaching the waters across
The lagoon to yon improbable, fabulous isle,
— A keep for God's warriors — gently we toss.
Challenged at first by the rude facade, we file
In to be conquered by the nave’s cool perfection.
Then, we scale the giddying tower to meet
And match the past. For here, sans protection,
I'd sat on the parapet, a heavenly kingdom at my feet.
Behind me had stood a worried monk. Would
I jump? He did not know — nor did I. Should
He do something...? We battled; we each won
Against different dragons, the act undone.
But this day, the only monster we fought
Was the howling wind. ‘Beastly, by George,’ I thought.
The lagoon to yon improbable, fabulous isle,
— A keep for God's warriors — gently we toss.
Challenged at first by the rude facade, we file
In to be conquered by the nave’s cool perfection.
Then, we scale the giddying tower to meet
And match the past. For here, sans protection,
I'd sat on the parapet, a heavenly kingdom at my feet.
Behind me had stood a worried monk. Would
I jump? He did not know — nor did I. Should
He do something...? We battled; we each won
Against different dragons, the act undone.
But this day, the only monster we fought
Was the howling wind. ‘Beastly, by George,’ I thought.
(1992)
