Ian Thomas Phillips | + Follow Poet |
I do not know? | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Song of Saint Patrick - Part 1 - Introduction

Song of Saint Patrick

I
Introduction

Ye laddies and ye lassies, 
	Please bear my words a while,
		(I hope my thoughts, you'll hear them out,
 	That against me ye won't rile):
			What is it that yer drinkin' fer,
				The reason won't yeh say
					That you have come in celebration
				Of St. Patrick's Day?

I'm not bitter, I'm not angry,
	I hope I don't sound mean,
		But what's the cause of all the shamrocks
	And your wearin' o' the green?
			Who was this ancient namesake,
				Oh kindly won't you tell?
					You don't know? Well then I'll share with you,
				If you let me sit a spell.

'Twas not, in fact, in Ireland
	Was born their patron saint,
		But south in Roman Britain
	-Though memory waxes faint
			Of the exact location of Banna Venta Berniae
				(Perhaps Ravenglass in Cumbria, 
			But none can truly say).

In this place forgotten
	Maewyn Succat first stepped on the earth
		Back 'round 387
	(The assumed year of his birth);
			His grandpa was a priest
				And his father was a deacon--
					Amidist the pagan tribes
				Maewyn became a Christian beacon.

Around year 402
	A voice came to the young man,
		It told him to keep his patience,
	That there was, for him, a plan:
			Maewyn must keep his faith and pray
				He need only to wait,
					He later would be instructed
				And rescued from his impending state.

It was God's plan soon after
	That Maewyn was taken in a raid
		Up to Pagan Ireland
	And a slave of him was made
			From the time he had sixteen years
				'Til he was twenty-two,
					He praid daily to his creator
				As his faith yet stronger grew.

Copyright © Ian Thomas Phillips | Year Posted 2013

Please Login to post a comment