Saint Paul's Home For Retired Sisters

Saint Paul’s Home for Retired Sisters


Something sweet about it, I thought,
Something quiet and solid
this life as Christ’s retired wife
Never failing, never doubtful
Never question what you’re doing here
Something desirable in this life
Something warm that wrapped its arms around me
Held me to its breast and stroked my hair
Whispered to me “Everything will be alright,
You’ve been so faithful so long
And now its time to hang up the habit
And now its time to settle in for the end”.
Something serene in being so sure.
Something that made my heart ache
And my eyes tear and my throat catch
Something here I’m missing, I’m sure.
Something to be said but it fails me,
There has got to be something here.
What is it that I am not seeing?
What is it that made it so clear to them?
What pill can I take? What potion to drink?
What can make me sure to the point of absolute?
What is wrong with my soul that I drive past
And think, “What the hell are they retiring from anyway?”