NOTE: In this archive Of Monks and Monastery, haiku are arranged with the most recent at the top and the earliest at the bottom. To read from first haiku to last, scroll to the bottom and then scroll up. These haiku can also be read in chronological order, from top to bottom, in the More about... section on the lower right. Click on Of Monks and Monastery.

Of Monks and Monastery

quietly, humbly
the monks live not for themselves
they live for mankind

unselfish their love
the salvation they pursue
is not theirs alone

it is for all men
whatever they might believe
saint and sinner both

they gather to pray
but their prayer never ceases
their life is a prayer

holy bunch, these monks
profoundly spiritual
yet warmly human

they vow poverty
chastity, obedience,
and stability

plus a unique vow
called conversion of morals…
true to their calling

they chant the ‘hours’
matins, lauds, terce, sext, and none
vespers and compline

they eat together
most of the time in silence
a monk reads aloud

special occasions
like feast days or funerals
talking is allowed

there is no mourning

the monks live what they believe

death is a passage

 

all that is needed
whatever it takes, monks do
in community

their simple motto
reads: Ora Et Labora
meaning: Pray And Work 

no matter their jobs
each day monks gather to chant
praying seven times

yet they were not mean
rowdies became unrowdies
cut ups soon calmed down

they learned well...did well
and return year after year
grateful alumni

there are monks who teach
others cook, wash clothes, cut hair
farm, garden, fix things

the monks taught high school
a boarding academy
the boys only kind

the tallest of monks
Father Matthew took no guff
so learned rowdy boys

the gentlest of monks
Father Phillip could be stern
banished the rowdies

with Father Gerald
cutting up was not condoned
lab hose...back of knees

retired abbot
a writer...Father Jerome
also built coffins

quiet and humble
Father Richard created
fiery ‘Monk Sauce’

Father Malachi
a favorite...nicknamed Goose
due to his long neck

Fathers Hugh...Kevin
played the majestic organ
virtuosos both

P (for Pater) Paul
infirmarian...dispensed
his famous cure-all

good for most ailments
known by both students and monks
as P Paul’s Pink Pills

quite a character
Father Finton hunted deer
always with no luck

until that one night
waking all to see...at last
a fine ten-point buck

talented artist
Father Felix carved, painted
sculpted, wore sandals

many were scholars
Father Gabriel...brilliant
a polyglot he

English, German, French
Spanish, Italian, Latin
taught philosophy

Father Nicholas
taught English and coached boxing
favored mismatched socks

a huge influence
assigned my favorite book
Catcher in the Rye

as did all the monks
during recreation time
whatever the game

chess or volleyball
checkers or a game of Hearts
with gusto they played

listened to baseball
the Cards on KMOX
though not the whole game

and played ball they did
among themselves on Sundays
for recreation

his post...center field
gliding under arcing flies
gazelle-like he ran

playing with elan
his teammates he encouraged
spilling out his joy

like...Brother Walter
once a promising hitter
played semi-pro ball

then came WW2
and he went into battle
survived...a changed man

he became a monk
still with that sweet lefty swing
when the monks played ball

feathers, arrowheads
campaign buttons, pens, knives, coins
stuffed animals, rocks

eclectic defined...
two or more of whatever...
it seemed all to fit

multi talented
he played an instrument, too
the concertina

occasionally
atop the water tower
into his sixties

like...Brother Jerry
sometimes called Brother Snixy
that’s what he called things

that’s snixy, he’d say
whatever struck his fancy...
he collected things

collage of hodgepodge
in display cases arrayed...
a quaint museum

Of Monks and Monastery

the monastery...
random thoughts from times long past
remembered fondly

memories...events
but monks remembered as well
the community

many monks there were
here I mention but a few
merely a sampling