The Quakers

'The Quakers' by Frank Park

I didn’t join the Quakers;
After Mass I attended their Sunday service.
‘Isn’t Mass enough for you?’
I understood Colleen’s question.

They just sit down, shake hands,
Read a short text from Scripture
And remain silent until someone speaks –
‘As the Spirit moves you,’ as they say.
After an hour they shake hands and have tea.
The contributions were always short and inspiring
And there were several long silences –
Some remained silent throughout.
After noisy hymns and guitars and too much preaching
It was a real refreshment of the spirit,
And their silence bears fruit –
In serving the suffering poor,
In recognising the divine in every person,
In working for peace:
There would be no wars
If Quakers ruled the world.

I sampled their friendship for a year or more
And sometimes sit in spirit with them still.

This poem is from A Memoir in Verse, a new collection
of poetry by former Catholic priest Frank Park.
It is published by the Blackthorn Press.

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