COMPULSORY CHAPEL

i

A quiet afternoon

the speaker

dull

the New Testament

washed out

Through the window

a lonely

blue-jay

makes noisy song.

ii

The speaker crashes

on

through his speech

All eyes are

upon him

Over his left

ear

the thick hair

is beginning

to slip.

iii

I would not mind

if I were

a sinner,

but as it is

—let me assure you—

I sleep alone.