we shall obey (St. Scholastica's plea), by Tuaca Kelly
beloved brother
ausculta
muffled by the Rule
and the weave
of your tunic
my plea failed
to brush immaculacy
my prayers,
received and answered
through the vault,
insisted
il mio gemello
blame me
my beloved reflection
for obliging you to bide
so dutybound faithful
in Covenant and simple habits
we are subject to forget
what we deny
one night
dear brother
we shall be rebels
and speak of things
we won’t write down
and think of things
we won’t say aloud
and render a final hymn
until the earth absorbs
the tears of men
one night
dear brother
our last night
dear brother
let us share innocence
and warmth
lest wisdom make fools of us
let your labor be mine
dear brother
it is winter
I’ll take my rest there
one night
dear brother
we shall be rebels
and speak of things
we won’t write down
and think of things
we won’t say aloud
and render a final hymn
until the earth absorbs
the tears of men
one night
dear brother
our last night
dear brother
let us share innocence
and warmth
lest wisdom make fools of us
let your labor be mine
dear brother
it is winter
I’ll take my rest there
one night
dear brother
we shall be rebels
and speak of things
we won’t write down
and think of things
we won’t say aloud
and render a final hymn
until the earth absorbs
the tears of men
one night
dear brother
we shall be rebels
we shall obey
©2024 Tuaca Kelly
Photo: Tuaca Kelly, Our Lady of Knock, Knock, Ireland, 2025
the garden, by Tuaca Kelly
the garden, by Tuaca Kelly, recorded by Diego Morales, Galway Cathedral, Galway, Ireland, 2025
[the garden] "It's like walking through a New Testament."- Renk van Oyen, Red Light Jazz Radio
"It makes me think of King David" - a pilgrim in Ireland
"This makes me realize: we are all God's children." - a pilgrim in Ireland
"Thank you! Just thank you!" - a member of LGBT community in Amsterdam
