As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

8- ❂ -V

The service comes to close and all begin

to pour out from the pews into the aisle

and down from there toward the entry doors.

Before our Preacher manages to merge

into the moving stream of visitors

the Chaplain pops out from the corridor

of people, pushing out into the row

our Preacher's waiting in, to trap him there

whereat he says: "Let's get a drink tonight;

I'll pay—tis not a problem—let me pay.                10

I know the finest place a man can sit

and sip some wine, or harder stuff if you

prefer debilitation for your fun."

Our Preacher's taken by surprise at this,

but nods his head and shakes the Chaplain's hand.

"I'd love a drink. And thank ye very much

for lending me your platform earlier.

Perhaps I'll have an audience to preach

toward now that you've help'd me out with this."

The Chaplain grins and nods and here replies:                20

"O, please, my lad, I'd like us to be friends,

so do refer to me familiar more

as I shall do for thee whilst we converse.

And as for what thy gratitude conveys,

tis not a problem. I should hope it works

to bring thee followers, for I should help

the people see from diff'rent points of view

so they can then decide which they prefer.

But good, we'll go for drinks upon the eve;

I know thy chapel; that is where we'll meet                30

before we hit the town—a pair of lads

who'll cause some mischief by our Luna's glow."

There's something stirs inside our Preacher's chest—

a sort of burn—but he ignores this sense

and pushes back th'associated thoughts

t'agree to their arrangement with a grin.

The hours pass with little to be told;

outside the church the Doll on tippy-toes

appresses lips to Preacher's scruffy cheek

before they part, reminding him his beard                40

hath gotten out of hand these passing days,

and so he goes to find a barber shop,

wherein the barber recognizes him,

for he was at the service earlier,

and thus he knows our Preacher's waning purse

and gives a cut to him for free of charge

with promise that he will attend at morn