The Dancer


The heaven hangs low today just above the spire
of the village church which is cold and closed
now since the priest hung himself in the vestry.
He drank you see, lifted his cassock and danced.
completely lost respect, they had humiliated him
the men in the bar knowing he was ill they plied
him with drinks till he behaved like a drunken tart.

The bishop came remonstrated with the fallen
priest who promised to behave and for some time
he was often seen prone on the floor before
the cross. Pale, suffering etched in his thin, yet
still handsome face, women thought he looked
like Jesus Christ. Breeze from the open window
the last waltz he danced alone.