The leek will sit with pride upon that hat;
and, yes, a daffodil’s another plant.
The two are often worn, so let us chat
about St David’s Day – or Dewi Sant.
This prelate was a Christian and we know
he was a bishop and the son of Non,
and grandson of a king, said to be so,
that king, we’re told, of Ceredigion.
St David will be found within stained glass.
There’s also a cathedral named for him.
It’s hard to miss St David as we pass
and some will even hum a well-known hymn.
Ah yes, we rather like the daffs and leeks,
could wear the daffs or eat those leeks for weeks.
(1 March 2025)
(appeared in Carmarthen, Wales, UK, library on 1 March, which is St David's Day, St D being the Patron Saint of Wales, d. 589 AD)
Categories:
prelate, christian, daffodils, places,
Form: Sonnet
There is a power the mightiest king can neither calm nor tether.
What power? you ask. The task I mean goes by the name of weather.
It was on Saint Mary Magdalene's Day in 1342,
on the twenty-second of July, a fact known but to few,
a raging fearful deluge descended from on high
like none since Noah's flood. In truth I do not lie.
It took away the rich man's house, it swept over hill and lea,
it blackened many a verdant plain as far as eye could see.
Every land in Christendom, from Wales to the tip of Spain
witnessed great loss of wealth and life, saw sorrow and great pain.
'Repent, ye sinners! the prelate preached. Pray God relieve this curse.'
In ignorance the people thought nothing could be worse.
but worse did come, not tarrying long, i whisper in low breath,
from Tartar land on the Black Sea shore. Alas, it was Black Death.
Categories:
prelate, july, religion, weather,
Form: Rhyme
Fire that lights up the heavens in the dark of night,
Whispers that echo across continents.
Burning ones, here and there, flashing like lightning;
To behold The ONE TRUE IMMORTAL GOD, is to die.
Light unapproachable, Life Incarnate.
GOD undefeatable, High Potentate.
Strong, impregnable, does not oscillate.
Grand sovereign, Supreme Prelate.
Silent, HIS Voice thunders,
GOD, in unbridled power
Thunders, no mortal can bear to hear
The nuances that brought forth all things from nothings.
The bear, the stork, all feed at HIS Table,
A trillion trillion creatures respond
To HIS Breath: all existences known and unknown
Close and in far untold reaches of space.
Categories:
prelate, devotion, encouraging, gospel, jesus,
Form: Free verse
just take off a layer
or walk around
topless
i am the archpriest
eating sugar puffs
i am the prelate
eating bagels
i am halfway
in
and halfway
out the window
the mother-in-law wants it off
i am not for sale
my successors are labouring
like hercules
the hidrosis is formulaic
like glib one-liners
"it's bad for the bones and
you'll catch a cold"
bring on the catarrh
the indisposition
the bogeys
the runny front bonnet
and collectivist honk
the towel over the bowl
of hot adam's ale
seduce my soul my doxy
my concubine
a night emission
i make love to the air conditioner
Categories:
prelate, humor, humorous,
Form: Free verse
(The Italian wine "Est! Est! Est!" got its
curious name because 900 years ago a
German bishop liked it so much, he
drank himself to death.)
Those bishop guys in days gone by
were deep and subtle thinkers.
They knew their scripture -- and no lie -
were quite accomplished drinkers.
A German prelate of the Church
was summoned down to Rome:
his servants helped him in his search
for taverns ("home from home").
How lucky we, with S.U.V.,
and motorways, and such:
twelfth century was leisurely --
ten miles a day was much!
What matter if the sun may grin,
and forest flame viridian?
To find an inn to shelter in,
their keen concern quotidian.
Not uninclined to "give it large",
unlike before or since,
he travelled with an entourage,
this spiritual prince.
Each morn he'd send a runner off
to scout the road ahead,
to find a decent Gastenhof,
and guarantee a bed.
The bishop stout (need we point out?),
a man of moral fiber,
was quite devout (but there's no doubt,
he was a keen imbiber!)
Categories:
prelate, humorous,
Form: Quatrain
Villanelle: The Dilemma of the Non-Violent – 11
How might one batter to death rogue Nation State
Much less Institutions Parties Power Groups
Motherland religion Peoples’ opiate
Kings tyrants prophets may under-estimate
The will of the People to upset their hopes
How might one batter to death rogue Nation State
Around rulers sycophants proliferate
Brahmins Mullahs Rabbis Mahatheros Popes
Motherland religion Peoples’ opiate
Intrigue owe allegiance inordinate
Find forgiveness for evil deeds lethal troops
How might one batter to death rogue Nation State
Rulers shared power with sp’ritual Prelate
Don’t religions all jockey like power groups
Motherland religion Peoples’ opiate
When the individual’s battered by the State
Turn not to Justice rather see dashed your hopes
How might one batter to death rogue Nation State
Motherland religion Peoples’ opiate
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2015
Categories:
prelate, anti bullying, betrayal, conflict,
Form: Villanelle
IMAGINATION
The mother ideology of fiction
Putting to bed new and sound diction
You inspire all to meditation
In the right mind we bear no frustration
Little you are conceived like foetus
Now you stand tall as the statue of Zeus
Who can with you not dictate?
And to whom can you not irritate
Lead them o! Not astray
For they know you nay
Allow your learned educate
And you’re wise o! Prelate
Categories:
prelate, imagination,
Form: Free verse
Suddenly the royal mantle of life slips away
It is evening, I
gathering close the cosy cloak of daily ennui
step out into the drizzle
One grey raindrop for one stilled life
The billions who came and went
Since Adam and his wife
Silent swallows fill the sky of Sidon
Somewhere there
By the stone jug fallen among motley earthenware
On a cobbled lane far, not quite far
from the temple, soldiers, winepress,
thonged sandals, scrolls, philistine perfumes
And the relentless drip of a stone faucet
There,
here and everywhere
The measured step, the laboured step
The famous step to hear
To kiss
Every single raindrop falling
Out of ken
With the tired sweep of the hem of His dress
Without priest or prelate
Mice or men
Categories:
prelate, dedication
Form: Free verse
Did I hear them sing Hosanna, yesterday?
What did you drunk them on
For the passover feast is not real alcohol
Did you call them to repentance too
So they before your heaven comes
Could settle old scores with you?
No priest nor prelate told them
The meaning of the covenant you made
They just said: change, yes, we can
That said that before drowning in the desert sands
Piling manna and largesse in Pharaoh's hands
That was the only difference
This variation strange to them
This separation between you and God
This wrongheaded experiment
I vomit with the dying Quayles
I cannot foreclose the callous serpents
Biting at my heels
All day long across the dictionary of my rage
I ponder our crucifixion, and our age
So shallow, so shallow and unforgiving
Men we are impelled by sin, we can surrender
But we cannot change, we cannot change
The history of the multitude that littered the desert floor.
Categories:
prelate, war
Form: Free verse
If you ask again
I will never validate a wrong
If you ask
If you ever dare
To contest beyond the muted tongue
Of your self reluctance to yield
Dare to doubt the validity
Of the sanctuary
And ask for answer from my pity
The purpose of the church
Even if heaven
Was only to be some measure of joy
For the weary broken castaway
Outside the granite door
Of our marble ambivalence
Between the diamond and the coal
Not to say that mere sparkle
Is more useful than warmth
Glowing from the sprinkle of some love
But if you ask
Validating your irrationality
Against the greed of prelate
And the follies of erring priest
You licensed
To vicariously become
The wingless wing of winging dreams
Tumbling down the stairs of your belly
If you really want to know
Look at these forgotten one
That find where each scraps of mercy flow
From the iron mountain of the heart
And thank them
For the blow torch of the gospel
The moral rod
Of the literary hell
Beating wheat to garner chaff
Thank them that there is
Still a drop of kindness in the world
Categories:
prelate, faith, inspirational, love
Form: Free verse
Words expressed directly action intense
Alphabet sudden numerous transmit combination
Occasion conscious verb too Communication
Tediously enhance romantically atmosphere
Lasting event Artistic monseigneur extremely
A poem, engage elements monopolizing routine
Conceived prevailing attitude prelate
Or Communication seem translucent establish
An French treatise geologic History book lavish
Interestment tropical pages conceal shallow
Material alloys joy Inside faithness
Writer I'am sensible Poet created from dirt
Villainously Nature similar wool picture
Qualities treacherous strength a gift wrap an
Characteristic talent where Communication
Steady greated centuries variously free
Maintain committee organized Communication
exposure, pleasure, appearing joined
Intelligence concerning my dues cleverness
Accumlated quick instance minate
Biology including Graduated toDay
Categories:
prelate, adventure, art, caregiving, daughter,
Form: I do not know?