CARMEN

This little poem popped ito my head today, I had to write it down.
My Joy was slow to comment.
Opinions, critique, anyone??
Kiwi John.

CARMEN

CARMEN IS A STATUE, IN A LITTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SHE STANDS BESIDE MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
THE CHURCH IS IN A CITY, TO WHICH I GIVE NO NAME
CARMEN IS A STATUE, WITH A MODICUM OF FAME

PARISHONERS WILL TELL YOU, THE STATUE’S ALWAYS BEEN
STANDING BESIDE MARY, HEAVENLY QUEEN
WHERE DID CARMEN COME FROM, NO-ONE REALLY KNOWS
THEY ARE STRANGELY SILENT, WHEN QUESTIONS GET TOO CLOSE

A YOUNG PRIEST FRESH FROM TRAINING, WAS SENT TO THE CITY CHURCH
FATHER TOM O,CONNOR, BEGAN HIS YEARS OF WORK
HIS EYES WERE DRAWN TO CARMEN, AND HE WONDERED WHY
CARMEN’S STATUE, IN HIS CHURCH, SHOULD LIE

HE QUESTIOND HIS PARISHONERS, NO-ONE WOULD TELL WHY
CARMEN’S STATUE IN HIS CHURCH, SHOULD STAND BY MARY’S SIDE
AND HE OFTEN WONDERED, AS THE CURIOUS WILL DO
WHY CARMEN’S STATUE, STOOD BENEATH HIS ROOF

HE QUESTIONED HIS PARISHONERS, QUESTIONED THEM ONE BY ONE
NONE WOULD GIVE AN ANSWER, WHY THE STATUE HAD A HOME
WITHIN THE CHURCH, BESIDE THE SAINTS
THAT HE TAUGHT HIS PEOPLE, TO VENERATE
LIPS WERE SILENT, HIS CURIOSITY UNSLAKED, ABOUT CARMEN

AND, THE YEARS SLID SLOWLY BY, YEAR FOLLOWING YEAR
FATHER TOM GREW SLOWLY GREY, HIS PARISHONERS HELD DEAR
THE MAN WHO GAVE HIS TIME TO HELP
THE POOR, AND THOSE WHO FEARED
THEY FORGAVE, THE ATTENTION HE PAID, TO CARMEN

FATHER TOM DIED, AS ALL MEN DO, HIS BODY THEY INTERRED
WITHIN THE CHURCH’S BURIAL GROUND, WHERE HE WAS LAID TO REST
IN A FAR CORNER PLOT, A TABLET OF STONE
STOOD BY ITSELF, STRANGELY ALONE

THERE AN OLD MAN STOOD, AND HE SADLY WEPT
HIS HEAD BOWED LOW AND SORROWFUL, TEARS APON HIS CHEST
CARMEN, MY DEAREST, DEAREST CHILD, MAY YOU BE AT REST
HE CALLED HER, CARMEN

CARMEN IS A STATUE, IN A LITTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SHE STANDS BESIDE MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
THE CHURCH IS IN A CITY, TO WHICH I GIVE NO NAME
CARMEN IS THE STATUE, OF A GIRL WHO DIED IN SHAME