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Poem

Sarah Howe

Acts and Monuments

Acts and Monuments

Acts and Monuments

Word from Ely:
            the alabaster Virgin’s
bludgeoned head
            feigned miracles
tumbled twenty ells –
            her velveted cheek
moored in an altar’s
            candle-strewn jetsam
was said to drop
            a waxen tear.
 
 
At the priory’s fall
            its people came too late
amidst clamour &
            cries. The glistering Saints
torn from their Sunday
            height – each trindle,
screen, & tabernacle,
            each tilted face  –
quite slubbered over
            – washed with white.  
 
 
As Homily blurred into Homily,
            Binham’s flock
continued to gaze –
            a whole generation
disobedient children
            thumbed at the lime’s
forgetfulness, hoping to coax
            from stubborn chalk
that serpent’s peepholed green,
            a flash of wheatsheaf hair
 
almost as bright as ever it was. 
Close

Acts and Monuments

Word from Ely:
            the alabaster Virgin’s
bludgeoned head
            feigned miracles
tumbled twenty ells –
            her velveted cheek
moored in an altar’s
            candle-strewn jetsam
was said to drop
            a waxen tear.
 
 
At the priory’s fall
            its people came too late
amidst clamour &
            cries. The glistering Saints
torn from their Sunday
            height – each trindle,
screen, & tabernacle,
            each tilted face  –
quite slubbered over
            – washed with white.  
 
 
As Homily blurred into Homily,
            Binham’s flock
continued to gaze –
            a whole generation
disobedient children
            thumbed at the lime’s
forgetfulness, hoping to coax
            from stubborn chalk
that serpent’s peepholed green,
            a flash of wheatsheaf hair
 
almost as bright as ever it was. 

Acts and Monuments

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère