The Banyan Tree

What secrets were said

in the Banyan forest

of the Carmelite nuns of

Redland Bay,

where silence — was the order of the day,

and all they ever did, was pray and pray

and pray and pray.

Then quietly, they would slip away

to the arms of that ancient tree,

which covered several acres

of rich Redland Bay soil.

You could get lost in this forest —

in that seething feast of greenery

a further communion

in the sanctum sanctorum

of their beautiful nunnery.