Berillius

As I entered

The abbess
Murmured to me

"Speak not
From this point onward."

Threw my suitcase

All my wordly possessions

Into a fire

Now
Dressed
In dull greenish-gray of

A novice’s habit

Until I take my vow
I kneel at the altar

and listen to the tape recorder

The nuns of Saint Berillius have taken a vow of silence until such time as the miracle of a young shepherd’s ascent into heaven has been recognized and canonized as such by the Vatican…

My attention drifts

Remembering this morning’s mass

The sight of
Beautiful pale skin

Freckled nose
Blue eyes

The face of an angel

This cannot be, lord

Yet allow
Her vow be broken

Once

This

I left home

To escape