All Sins 1959 Poem by Terry Collett

Sister Paul
walked across
the green lawn

her flowing
black habit
billowing

behind her
then she stopped
right in front

of the white
steel table
where Anne

and the Kid
were sitting
eating tea

(sandwiches
cut into
triangles

and pieces
of iced cake)
I've been told

the nun said
that you two
have said things

to Lulu
and young Colm
that were rude

and unkind
is that right?
when was this?

Anne asked
after the
afternoon

siesta
the nun said
don't recall

anything
Anne said
do you Kid?

Benedict
shook his head
Sister Paul

looked at him
it's a sin
to tell lies

Benedict
the nun said
are you sure

you recall
nothing of
what I've said?

but sister
are all lies
said sinful?

Anne asked
yes they are
the nun said

so if I
said you were
beautiful

would that be
sinful too?
Anne said

Sister Paul
tut-tutted
you are not

so clever
as you think
the nun said

so you too
can tell lies
Anne said

the nun stood
taking in
the young girl

sitting
her one leg
poking out

of a red
patterned skirt
her leg stump

visible
where the skirt
had ridden

up the thigh
don't be cruel
to other

children here
with your words
the nun said

Anne stared
at the nun
then picked up

a sandwich
and ate it
as noisy

as she could
Benedict
sipped his tea

as the nun
walked away
and wondered

how easy
it would be
for the nun

to pull up
all that gear
(the habit)

to go pee
that's a good
example

Skinny Kid
of Christian
love and such

did you see
her hard face?
what love there?

where God's grace?
Benedict
said nothing

just sipped tea
(warm and sweet)
recalling

Sister Paul's
long and white
naked feet.