A memory came walking by...


Schism

We met in a first-night cinema queue,
Two singles feeling awkward and blue,
We chatted in the gathering dark,
Became a couple entering Cupid's Ark,
I confessed that I didn't have much,
So you kindly agreed to go 'Dutch',
And we sat together in the back row,
Whispering romance as the lights dimmed low,
And we stared wide-eyed on our chance blind date,
Not at the film but at the promise of our fate,
And so it was to be, at least for that summer,
I was your drum, you were my drummer,
And we beat out a love song for that season,
Until we lost our music to heretical reason,
One day you failed to appear as planned,
I thought that Fate had played a hand,
I went to your home to seek you out,
Knocked at your door but you were not about,
Your father opened that sad threshold
And told me there was nothing to behold,
Not even a last glimpse of radiant you,
I was a single again feeling awkward and blue,
I asked him why I couldn't see you again
And he said with a cold eye, 'Son, you must refrain,
For she is Roman Catholic and you are C. of E.',
And with that he closed the door on me.

As I cried all the way back to my own home,
I cursed the split between England and Rome,
And what made my blood course hot and cold
Was the irony that the film we watched was
'The Greatest Story Ever Told'.






Poetry by Christopher Fernie The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 799 times
Written on 2016-06-12 at 16:57

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Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Nicely done, Chris. My wife, who is Catholic, and I, though atheist, had no such difficulties. The first movie that we watched together was Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Her dad was skeptical of me because I'm mechanically inept. Her mom liked me because she was hoping that I'd get her daughter out of the house.
2016-06-14


Kathy Lockhart
What a poignant telling of a story of love between two sweethearts ripped apart by the ignorance of man putting limits on the love of God. This was beautifully written with so much tenderness and respect.
applause! and the sweetest kisses to this sweet love born between two young people who just happened to love beyond man-made boundaries.

Kathyxx
2016-06-13


Kathy Lockhart
What a poignant telling of a story of love between two sweethearts ripped apart by the ignorance of man putting limits on the love of God. This was beautifully written with so much tenderness and respect.
applause! and the sweetest kisses to this sweet love born between two
2016-06-13


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
You've written and witty and seemingly light-hearted poem which belies a very dark and sad theme. Well done for the writing, and well said for the content—Capulets and Montagues, C of E and R.C., so it has been, so it shall be ever more.
2016-06-12


Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
The great divide! having lived in Belfast I know all too well, some friends had to keep their relationship secret for years, they did eventually marry and move to America, where sadly some years later, went their separate ways - love the rhymes and the innocence of this

Elle x
2016-06-12