Monastery, Montserrat Poem by Hans Ostrom

Christians’ belief will outlive
these particular monastic bricks,
which will, in their present
configuration, outlast us—visitors
today in bright sun. A child

accidentally kicks a soccer-ball
over the parapet. We all move
to the wall, peer over. Rocks above

the monastery will outlast
Christians’ belief in its present
configuration, will persist past
words like rock and kick that
visitors today, tomorrow, speak.

Can belief make the face of
a simple wooden statue last
forever? The face of the Black
Madonna shines, seems
to gaze past the parapet
of Time. Geology promises

that wind will outlive rocks
above. Wind roaming past
bluffs above Montserrat is
holier than now, is eternal
liturgy of displacement, is
inspired.