A Year 10 student's response to the story of Heloise and Abelard

My Year 11 Extension class are studying the connections between text, culture and value and are currently working on a text of their own choosing. I especially enjoy this part of the course, especially when a student discovers a text that opens up worlds. For Will, strange and compelling worlds have been opened up in his reading of the letters of Heloise and Abelard, and his study of two appropriations, Pope's poem and the film The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

His writing describes his struggles to understand how such a tragedy could take place.

Will has been drawn deeply into the story of the two lovers. He's appalled by the punishment dealt out to Abelard and the tragedy of their enforced separation, and he is profoundly curious and puzzled by the question of whether a commitment to the church and God can ever wipe clean the memory of a passionate love.

In the last week or so, Will has written a series of letters, in the form of poems, between Heloise and Abelard. Here is the second one:

To Abelard, my lord,

My love I write to you at last,
Although I thought these passions passed.
Like a phoenix from the cinder,
Love returns again to hinder
This process of forgetfulness,
And draws me from my dark recess.

This letter comes from painful tears,
Forgotten in these silent years.
Unsettled by your words and woes,
That stirred me from my sweet repose.
Sadness flows and blots the page
As I write from holy cage.

I cannot rest within these walls,
These rugged rocks and hallowed halls.
Pensive in my own bastille,
Locked away with holy seal.
My mind does stray to thoughts of old
As passions come and then unfold.

They told us love should come through trust,
But what is love if without lust?
Infatuation takes command,
With trepidation hand in hand.
Look past these consecrated vows
And find the place where passion grows.

You have proven me your affection,
And love has seen its resurrection.
Now memory takes authority,
When emotions claim priority.
We can hope to fight desire,
But we will never quench Love’s fire.