Daylesford Tea Rooms

I wrote these words after visiting a popular afternoon tea rooms that had previously been converted from a Catholic convent — the previous tenancy not completely washed away.

Dusk

masks the hill.

And down steep steps

Gothic windows call,

with praying hands

inviting us to take tea

at the convent gallery.

*

Music plays ,

a Gregorian travesty

at the defunct chapel.

Flaking pale paint

where crucibles of

paste and gold;

still adorn the walls.

*

And sainted heroes

stand

caught in the glow

of stained glass

and ,

the Stations of the Cross

are there,

forever

nailed to frames.

*

White waxen candles

compact

lit,

flames flicker

below

marble names.

*

A tri-legged cauldron

of bronze,

rides

astride a Persian rug.

Takes central space

where once the altar

stood.

*

“Quarant Hore”

adore the Lord;

sadly flanked by

Catholic memories

in situ .

Still.

*

Unsplash — eddie howell

a.a.hardy

copyright 1996

all rights reserved.

#dusk #gregorian chant #Daylesford #poetry