on 16/4/02 9:30 am, arthur007 at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Receiving into Church. (For T.B.)
>
> Unsure of ancient patterns of worship I stand at the back,
> respectful and glum, the thin whine of words
> obliterated by echoes and the ceremonies of stone.
>
> Stations in white marble retell another agony,
> a garden of candles in the corner
> catch the flame of tears along a widow's cheek.
>
> Object of my respect laid under Christ in Glory.
> Of my charity I muse on calculus, the differentials
> of disparate lives that brings the two of us here,
>
> me hale and chilled, he reduced by his Gethsemane
> to an irregular hexagon of pine and a long night alone.
> Frost is predicted.

Reply Sally checking _ I seem not to be getting thw Works mail so I've got
to reply to this. Arthur have you changed your email addrss? I always think
of you as Arthur at blue yonder.

I was at a funeral yesterday, it wa a very religious funeral and the friend
had been relgious too (he had every excuse, since he spent much of his life
in Carstairs, having done next to nothing wrong, would you believe it). He
was institutionalised, and mildy schizophrenic, and knew a great deal about
music and poetry. the above poem struck a chord, because I find relgious
services embarrassing but we do need some ceremony for funerals.
So thanks for the poem.
Sally-ee