Their Evensong; My Pleasure For Friend Thad Poem by ivor or ivor.e hogg

I sit outside the monastery
and pass an hour pleasantly
Listening to the brothers chant
I find their plain song elegant.

I wonder why, it puzzles me
Why do some men voluntarily
decide upon monastic life.
Are they afraid of worldly strife.

It seems to me that they retreat
from normal life; admit defeat.
I’m sure they see it differently
To me it is a mystery.

What can they possibly achieve.
This question really baffles me.
I must suppose that they believe.
It’s pleasing to their deity.

But I am not a Christian
I have my own philosophy.
More suited to a simple man.
Which is all I claim to be.

They have a choice they can decide
to worship God in their own way.
I am content to sit outside
I do not have the right to say.

What they should do or should not do.
My own motto is tolerance
that’s why I come to listen to
the plain song. which my ears entrance.

When night falls and all is still.
The final notes have died away.
I exercise my own free will
and rise to make my homeward way.

My God does not expect me to
stick to a rigid discipline.
The way the brothers have to do.
To pray or not the choice is mine.

14/07/2009
http: // blog.myspace.com/poeticpiers