Early afternoon
On the second day
Of this short personal retreat
Although I have retreated
From anything but my senses
Right now I hear the gulls
And the loud raucous laughter
Of the studious young Americans
Though to be honest
I am unsure what drew them here
Only one or two
Made it into the Abbey
Only one really, on a regular basis
But I did see a vacant-looking girl
Walking by the river
And in the cafeteria
I overheard two young men
Discussing the purpose of their lives
I tell you, they had a great deal
Of street-wise verbose
Even if occasionally
They stumbled
As I also, so so often stumble
To find the right words
To make the sense of which I am after
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