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4

imagine being stuck on a boat with a whole lot of French people

the week after we were there
slips on the road after heavy rain
forced pilgrims to jetboat upriver
for the church rededication
                 nuns

and a bishop and cardinal from France
all frightfully hardy in the Whanganui winter cold

beaucoup haere mai haere mai

wooden houses and remoteness impressed them
and the straightforward compassion their saint prospect
brought with her and allowed to spread
like pollen rising into the hills

seeing the needs of others and of the land

next it was downstream and beyond
to celebrate Bastille Day in the capital

one
nun (a poetic expression
if ever there was) concluded

for us it feels like the end of the world