IONA:
The Nunnery.
Passing through a doorway here
Is to pass from light to light,
grass to grass or stone to stone:
steps rise in the walls
to non existent landings
or dormitories
of no more substance
than the sublime, island air:
Windows look either out or in,
it makes no difference now
in this once loved home
of holy women.
Yet a mere few hundred steps
along the rise,
the same emptiness
has been restored,
re-vitalised
and made to ring again
with Alleluias, Hosannas
or "Joy and Peace to you"
according to the seasons;
just as the former place
once rang with women’s, love-laced
praise and thanksgiving.
Why so different?
Why does one reverberate
and the other lie entombed
in a pleasant garden,
but otherwise
just a block of ancient walls?
Why this gross inequality
‘twixt sanctuaries?
Could it be, the influence of men
suppressed the significance
of these stones
laid to house women of the Lord?
Could it possibly be
It seemed more proper to men
To restore a house of men?
"Why, Why?"
The stones might justifiably cry.
"Why, Why?
is our heritage the less?"
"Why, Why"
the porches might, for equity, cry,
"Was there something wanting in our
holiness?"
Or was it simply
that men rebuilt with little thought
the auld domain of men:
Maybe they felt
their headship, Biblically taught,
entitled Abbey above Nunnery
to rise again.
"Why, Why?"
The angels might for justice cry
"Why, Why?"
Cry faithful women from amidst
the press of heaven's saints.
"Why,Why?"
The Wild Goose might well sigh,
"No gender hierarchy
is any part of our perspective
of holiness!"
There are several other poems about Iona on this blog which you will find in the A to Z Index in the right hand column OR you may care to go on to this poem; IONA: A Special Place in the Cosmos
Original introduction read Ten days ago we had the privilege of being hosts to Sister Veronica who is the first Melanesian woman to be ordained to the Anglican priesthood. Veronica is currently serving as a Curate in the parish of Ham near Richmond, UK.
There are several other poems about Iona on this blog which you will find in the A to Z Index in the right hand column OR you may care to go on to this poem; IONA: A Special Place in the Cosmos
Original introduction read Ten days ago we had the privilege of being hosts to Sister Veronica who is the first Melanesian woman to be ordained to the Anglican priesthood. Veronica is currently serving as a Curate in the parish of Ham near Richmond, UK.
This is not the place to try and tell Sister Veronica’s story – it is too complex and too harrowing: suffice it to say that when she returns to her home on Isabel, one of the Melanesian islands, she will not be able to exercise her ministry publicly, but only within her own Community, the Sisters of the Church. More of Veronica’s story can be found here.
Veronica arrived as we were beginning to prepare for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The juxtaposition of these two things reminded me of earlier pilgrimages we had made to the Island of Iona. On that island is an Abbey, which has been wonderfully restored to its medieval splendour and a Nunnery which remains a ruin. The poem which follows, ponders on that difference (which is also highlighted throughout the summer months on the weekly, round-the-island pilgrimages organized by The Iona Community.) There is no doubt that the Anglican church might usefully ponder on this particular injustice as it reflects further on the role of women in various of its Provinces – and hopefully takes urgent remedial action.
