Psalm Sonnet 61. Joy so Scared

Bless him! Tommy always quivered.
He’d stand there at the back of the
Chapel isle, and the acolyte
Vestments would veritably bounce.

His hands would tremble so that he
Would drop things you might think he couldn’t.
Words fell from recitations, like
Burnt match sticks under unlit candles.

You wouldn’t believe joy so scared
—Till you saw his dad in the pew.