Celibacy and Nico
In my book, Celibacy is in discussion, of course, as it is in our days. I married a priest, a Franciscan monk. He left the convent on December 3 in 1965, and our marriage took place on July 14 in 1967. In the time between thoose two dates a lot has happened. Nico was wild and sad when Rome decided that celibacy would not come up for discussion during the Council. For this decision, the pope was rewarded with a warm applause of the many cardinals and bishops present, the mitred elite of the Roman Catholic Churc. In a dead keen poem, Nico addressed them all as ´mitres´. I put his poem down here, and those who want to know more about it can read in my book the chapter ´Drifting on, together´
His poem is as follows, the preview included. I put it in my book, as my son Dirk and his wife Ellen definitely asked me to do so. I am glad with it.
October 13, 1965
On behalf of all the bishops, Cardinal Tisserant has sent
a thanksgiving to the pope
in connection with his running of celibacy.
After the applause and that thank letter, the Church wrote us off.
The eyes closed, the mouths shut, the clothes around the body,
hands off the women, controlling your thoughts.
Save your seed, salt it away or even drag it out.
Eat alone quickly, sleep alone cold.
Warm yourself with wine and brandy,
your blood pressure too low, your heart an infarct.
God almighty.
Thank you, Holy Father,
Thank you, applauding mitres,
That you have explained yourself
How you prefer to sleep and to live
And which ideal of priest life
Hovers on your eyes.
So, your parchment snouts
Really appear to reveal
How you, as celibate dead bodies,
Manage to calm down your sexual urge.
Therefore, nobody in the world may know
How you make it with your conscience
And how your sexuality as a man
Can hold out in a single bed.
Therefore, Mister Bo-peep is unwanted.
The facts shall force you, though
To sing a lower tune.
That will not be a shame for you,
For ‘lower’ does not mean ‘come down a peg or two’.
‘Lower’ is more real, more human, more holy.
May God bless you all, fathers,
I would not treat you wrongly.
You do not know better, so sorry.
However, may God bless in particular
All the priests who yearn for the truth,
The truth of a woman, a lap,
A child and peace with themselves.