It begins with Vigils
a sliver of sotto voce inserted into silence
monks intoning, muted and monotonic
mouths barely moving in momentum
communion words converge
stream an omnipresent OM
through oscines in Matins murmurings
rippling onward 'til a raucous rooster
assents the choral crescendo

35 thoughts on “Matins”

1. I liked this line: “communion words converge” and the rooster’s contribution at the end.

   1. cockcrow breaks the murmuring motion

2. Love all the mmm— that is really the sound of the matins… can see the monks chanting.

   1. murmur was such a lovely m word to meander with – thank you

3. Such excellent use of alliteration here:
   “monks intoning, muted and monotonic
   mouths barely moving in momentum”

   (as well as assonance)

   1. my two favourite literary devices but you provided the prompt with the loveliest of onomatopoeics!

4. “monks intoning, muted and monotonic mouths barely moving in momentum” I so love the way this sounds.. it could be a tongue twister!💞 Beautifully executed.

   1. isn’t it fun to tongue twist and move words round our mouths like marbles!

      1. It most certainly is!💖

5. I have always loved matins….and the chanting which is so mystical to me. The repetition of the m sounds, the words. This is Matins!

   1. A touch of Gregorian plain chant crept in here – I second your appreciation – thank you

6. I have heard a roomful of monks singing together ( not in a church but in a gymnasium) and it is soul stirring – as is this lovely Quadrille

   1. Very stirring comment too – thank you Candy

7. The solemn music of this chanted poem is perfect to mark the beginning of Lent.

   1. How well observed Lynn – even the poet had not made the connection- consciously at least

8. What a joy to speak aloud these delicious sounds

   1. I like the inference of tasting sounds – thank you for that

9. I really like the sounds, the way they build to finish the poem exactly as it should…

   1. From vigils to matins – this is how I imagine it – thank you Magaly

10. Roosters are just show offs. Luckily I was quick enough to read the ‘Ommmm’ as it flowed though to oscines. Beautfiully inventive.

    1. Usually use the more familiar term ‘songbirds’ but oscines flowed better with OM

11. Oh, how beautifully you built it up, only to startle us all with that rooster. 🙂

    1. Glad Old rooster had the. desired effect – the starting cock for the dawn chorus! He makes a good contrast with murmuring monks too since he only does stentato voce

12. like that alliteration in the middle!

    1. Thank you – tried to conjure the rising, growing sounds of joint murmuring

13. Oh, Laura, I can hear the monks intoning in your poem, with all the wonderful alliterative sounds!

    1. Many thanks Kim for such an appreciative comment

14. I love the vocal tenor of this, plainsong rising and falling, intoning an old bell. “Oscines,” great word to add to my psaltery! Matins are my magic hour – 4 a.m. every morning — with the night for fellow brethren.

    1. Alas from vigils to matins I sleep and dream of murmuring monks! Thank you for listening Brendan!

15. murmurings
    rippling onward ’til a raucous rooster
    assents the choral crescendo

    To relive the day they were born would be so heavenly and precious. Great take Laura!

    Hank

    1. There is something joyous in cochcrow Hank 🙂

16. Murmur…I just love saying the word. I feel the hum of it, the vibration, the slow rise to a rooster’s crow breaking the chant.

    1. Mmm it’s a marvellous mouthful – thank you Susie

17. All the “m” sounds really work well to create the murmurs. (K)

    1. Nice of you to stop by – many thanks K

Comments are closed.