Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SISTER MARY VERONICA, by NANCY BYRD TURNER Poet's Biography First Line: The soft-shod nuns have laid the last fold straight Last Line: Life still a dream -- love still a mystery! Subject(s): Nuns | ||||||||
The soft-shod nuns have laid the last fold straight In her last raiment, telling their slow beads With measured memories of her faithful deeds, And prayers for her soul's sake, importunate. Now they are gone, gray shadows, to the call Of a far vesper bell; and foot and head, Two pallid tapers tall -- Glimmering, gaunt, thick stifled with the gloom Of wan dusk deep'ning to the naked room -- Guard her, a short day dead. White and austere and virginal she lies: Pale brow, pale fallen lids, hair meetly drest; Straight shoulders never burdened, mother-wise, Of weary little bodies sleep-possest; Meek mouth uncurved of kisses, folded eyes; Thin hands light linked across a shallow breast; Beyond desire, past sorrow and past surprise, Mute, passionless, at rest. Strange, as I watch, a faint soft flame of youth Brightens upon her, slowly, wondrously, And lends her magic dower . . . A look of vision and of prophecy. Not curve of cheek and color of fine rose, Not curl nor fleeting dimple -- none of those, But the warm beauty and the tender ruth Of April sunlight on an autumn flower One brief, miraculous hour. Lo, what at last are dust and age and death! Time cannot touch the innermost spirit . . . See -- Half smiling, confident of joy to be, Sure of her heritage, with bated breath Biding her destiny, She waits, a slim girl wistful of the truth, Life still a dream -- Love still a mystery! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAR MEMORY: 2. SOMEONE INSIDE ME REMEMBERS by LUCILLE CLIFTON FAR MEMORY: 5. SINNERMAN by LUCILLE CLIFTON CLARE OF ASSISI by MADELINE DEFREES EXISTING LIGHT; FOR LEE NYE by MADELINE DEFREES GILBERT OF SEMPRINGHAM by MADELINE DEFREES GRANDMOTHER GRANT by MADELINE DEFREES HANGING THE BLUE NUNS; FOR WARREN CARRIER by MADELINE DEFREES IN THE MIDDLE OF PRIEST LAKE by MADELINE DEFREES PSALM FOR A NEW NUN by MADELINE DEFREES LET US HAVE PEACE by NANCY BYRD TURNER |
|