Pax In Te Mcmlxxi Poem by Terry Collett

Pax in te
the young monk said
during Mass
his hands
touched mine
sign of peace,

trees swayed
in the early morning breeze
by the South wall,

Il vento
è il respiro
di Dio
the Italian monk said
as we stood
gazing at the trees,

I cleaned the toilets
after Terce
bucket and mop
and cloths
the smell of disinfectant
in the air,

Dieu est amour
Dom Charles said
l'amour de Dieu
est aussi dans
sa création
we had arranged flowers
by the statue
de la mère de Dieu,

in some cases
silence is dangerous
St Ambrose said
Gareth related
as we sat
on the private beach
of the abbey,

the bells tolled for Vespers
George and I
pulled as we were shown
le campane sono
la voce di Dio,

incense in the church
after Mass
the sound of plainsong
still in the air in echoes,

der Glaube an Gott
ist ein Akt des Willens
the Austrian monk said
I looked at him
but was stumped
by what he said,

faith in God
is an act of will
Gareth said
translating
as he thought best,

peace within
no act of will
just peace
and rest.