Robert Sat
by Tom Matthews
The congregation was scandalized
When Robert sat in his pew and read a paperback
My mother said afterwards
"If he wasn't interested why did he come"
And I marvelled at her
For she never thought to apply the criterion to me
And I marvelled at Robert too
Able to read so calmly in the midst of so much hate
Robert is doing very well thank you
He emigrated to Canada
And broke both his legs in a skiing accident
And married a nurse
Irish poet Tom Matthews (1945-2003) made his living as a chemist. I discovered this poem of his in the anthology Ireland in Poetry, edited by Charles Sullivan.
by Tom Matthews
The congregation was scandalized
When Robert sat in his pew and read a paperback
My mother said afterwards
"If he wasn't interested why did he come"
And I marvelled at her
For she never thought to apply the criterion to me
And I marvelled at Robert too
Able to read so calmly in the midst of so much hate
Robert is doing very well thank you
He emigrated to Canada
And broke both his legs in a skiing accident
And married a nurse
Irish poet Tom Matthews (1945-2003) made his living as a chemist. I discovered this poem of his in the anthology Ireland in Poetry, edited by Charles Sullivan.
