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ST FRANCIS AND ST CLARE : TWIN SOULS : PART 1

  separated by vows of abstinence but 
forever bonded by Light entwined 
two parallel Orders twinned
in material poverty firm endured 
with One Heart beating to  
missions of Love ordained 
in living Truth never adjourned 

vessels of opposite gender 
each frolicking happy dancing 
and singing as children of 
holy futures Assisi blessed 
two exceptional mortals no less
became Christ sacrosanct obsessed 

she first saw him as a child 
of twelve when young 
Francesco Bernadone bent 
over a wretch of woe listening 
a vivid vignette of compassion 
embodied bestowed twin soul 
recognition of fated heavenly love
unconsummated engraven 

Lady Pica and Lady Ortolana
both mothers knew their children
were of The Chosen, whose 
perfected grace was authority itself
subjugating Popes equal to merchants 
or serfs, twins not to be ignored
dismissed or relegated unearthed 

she fair haired and tall unflinching 
Divinity pinpointed her evangelical 
deliverance to Francis untainted 
His Will she imbibed in chastity
at eighteen, a cycle complete ready 
for the compliance of echoed escape 
through backdoor of elegant luxury 

she wanted not conventional 
sitting in churches high and dry
neither a convent life appendaged
to noble homes of embroidery hooks 
gossip and creamy jovial cooks
to go and cut fair locks then don 
the crossed heart was her woven 
art to start for sure some more 

confronting the Monk unashamedly 
too shocked he austerely withdrew 
then saw the Will written in her 
stature intercessed knew, it was
she to be  

speechlessly she cried out to him
“Take me away !”
as she delivered her aching soul
his eyes remained on ground 
two shattering simplicities in 
terrible confrontation ~ Francisco 
was taking no risks with this patrician
feminine of ardent Heart, but pierce 
of Will of God he could not ignore

when buds were thick on a Palm Sunday 
dressed in nobility gear, Heart torn apart
none in cathedral could hear soul rejoice 
gracious secure domestic life she fled
relinquishing furs and satins to bleed 
for hardship with zero vice bursting 
virtues, emotions ripped to shreds

into his wood Clare went to declare
her love for the Christ with open weep 
flowers, trees, birds blue joyful peeped
she had to do what Francis had done
shun normal human life for the ONE
daughters as well as sons were His 
desire to keep sacred Love higher  

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Book: Reflection on the Important Things