Evensong Poem by Tom Billsborough
Evensong
At vespers now and kneeling
Down white-hooded
Nuns commence their prayer:
'In principio et nunc et semper,
Et in secula saeculorum.
In low contralto
Through the frosted air.
And snowdrops supplicant
In the pale twilight
As if to echo in a Litany of rapture
The tremulous whispers
Of the virtuous choir.
Larger and smaller than surrounding
Stars and virtuous too, is Venus rising
And, from my dim sight,
Hiding her true and turbulent nature.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
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7/26/2025 12:13:22 PM # 1.0.0
This piece brings to memory a group of nuns of the order of St. Vincent de Paul who I worked with in the mountains of Haiti while I was still a medical resident. I will never forget the image of their startling white habits in single file across the green valley on the way to immunize a local village, and the sound of their prayers in the evening, as you have sso erenely envisioned here. A cherished memory, resurrected in the richness of these images. Thank you, Tom!
It has struck me that the modesty I found in nuns mirrored the snowdrops in my garden. Whilst not a Catholic I did some voluntary work as an Examiner in the local Diocese and was delighted to meet some nuns and even listen to Evensong on occasions. These are cherished memories and indeed yours are. Thank you, Seamus.