Triptych 3: Souls

Gold cherry

By Philip Sidney

Sun, 17 Jan 2016
  • 4211 reads
16 comments
 

Children nod heads at the priest as

he instructs them on sin and the soul,

they arrange their faces to radiate

understanding,

as they might for an explanation

of prime numbers.

 

One sees a bar of translucent Pears soap,

its wholesome scent envelops him

in Sunday night cleanliness,

a pleasing oval

fitting snuggly in his hand,

he watches himself fling it from him,

dares not ask the question -

what if I lose my soul?

 

Another sees amber

holds it to the light to examine

the ancient insect trapped at its heart,

fear creeps over her skin -

my original sin is still there

Holy Water and oaths

did not reach it -

can the others tell?

 

The hungry child tastes his soul,

it is a boiled sweet as bright

as a piece of stained glass,

he runs his tongue over its

smoothness to savour its tang

and wonders with a hopeless pang

could it ever be sucked

into a pure glacier mint?

 

The children chant the confessional mantra

to the rhythm of the times table

and watch sins they are saving up for Saturday night

dance to the monotone.

The priest pleased that there are no questions

feels - that that went well.

Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

all is well and all will be well in a world that has no begining and no end, but soppy bubble, there's the trouble with souls. This is so good - it's obscene and needs covered up with a facecloth. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks celticman. :)

Submitted by rainingalloverthesky on

This is glorious!

-pklg-

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

What a lovely thing to say!  Thank you so much 154. smiley

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

very much worth the wait - well done

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much insertsmiley

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

The whole triptich makes for very powerful and uncomfortable reading. Religion gives such power to people.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jean, it's a slippery topic, so odd what we do to ourselves. 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Get a great reading recommendation everyday. Please share and retweet with your friends

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much!  Those golden cherries look so good with the gold of the icon.  :)

Submitted by VeraClark on

You hit on so many minutiae memories that are familiar. Beautifully done.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Vera. :)

Submitted by torscot on

I enjoyed this confessional tale.

And the pleasures of washing your mouth out with soap after mass was always a treat.

torscot

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Hope it hasn't left a nasty taste in your mouth.smiley

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Hi, Helen, I think I found more to ponder in this last. Not having any experience of Roman catholic churches, but aware that all churches can become place of rote, routine, religious ceremony. You seem to draw out quite cleverly the 'arrangement of face' to seem satisfied, the 'priest' and children both aware that ceremonies aren't necessarily achieving anything, and the last honest line of his relief not to be asked questions. It all seems so far removed from cleansing by real faith in what was accomplished on the cross. But, as I said, for some reason ceremony that is quickly over so easily gets created all the time, even though it doesn't achieve or satisfy in itself. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Rhiannon.  I suppose I haven't considered the spiritual factor in these poems, more human behaviours.  Thanks for reading.