Kjell Espmark: 'Jag, den yngste novisen i Saint Julien'

 

I, the youngest novice in Saint Julien,

suffered from the monks’ sin of acedia

and moaned in the sun’s black light.

When the darkness could hardly be breathed any longer

the Tempter came with his huge bellows

and squeezed into my ear:

Follow me and the night will light up for you.

But I shook my head wordlessly

and simply huddled even closer

to God’s shuddering back.