Lola Wavers – a poem by Richard Ryal

Lola Wavers


Honey slows the speed of light it bears
to opalescence,
its silence worth more than prayers.

The air has turned to syrup, it bears
her into quiet luminescence,
its honey slows the speed of light. It shears

from her the husk of sin, which scares
her—into shame, not gratitude. But acquiescence 
to silence is worth more than prayers

or penance. The calm light prepares
her for its grace, its healing phosphorescence,
honey slowing the speed of light, it flares

then holds her still. The light declares
itself a prayer, an ascendance
into silence worth more than prayers.

But she’s not ready yet. She still cares
for, clings to, her faults, though their allure lessens
as honey slows the speed of light it bears
to silence worth more than prayers.

This poem is from an unpublished collection titled The Ecstasy of St. Lola. They consider a young nun named Sister Lola who experiences a profound religious experience. 

A poet, professor, and editor, Richard Ryal has worked in marketing and higher education. He stops for every poem he hasn’t read before, and no one can talk him out of doing that. His recent publications include Notre Dame Review, Sheila-Na-Gig, The South Florida Poetry Journal, and Survision.