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Feast of St. Patrick
I am not Irish, but who has to be
A feisty Irish lass or Irish lad
To cuddle up to the gay revelry
To honor the beloved great St. Pat
A patron highly revered in many a land
Apostle tried who traveled far and wide,
Who led barbaric clans to understand
The Christian message and its shining light.
A Briton under Roman rule, Saint Pat
Ascetic, wise, resourceful, versatile
Did make his savage congregations glad
And told them stories of the Emerald Isle.
But Oh good Irish - you are not alone
On whom Saint Patrick’s beacon light did shine
He ministered to folks along the Rhone
The Danube, Sein, the Isaar and the Rhine.
To teach about the Holy Trinity
He showed the clover leaf to heathen gangs
Taught the wild tribes of Teuton Germany
To render harmless deadly serpents fangs.
Legenda Aurea says he went to Prague
But then returned to Broughton-Under-Blean,
And held at bay the pestilence and plague,
For draught there had wiped out the luscious Green
Our culture’s light bulb would be very dim-
Barbaric rule would have the upper hand,
Stark ignorance would shroud us dull and grim
Had he not spread his word in foreign land.
Dance Ring-Around-The Rosie,-but take care
Too well discern the honest obeisance
Paid to the Saint by folks from Outre-Mer
Who are all set to join your merry dance
But knowing your good will they trust and say:
“Hurray rejoice in dear Saint Patrick‘s Day“!.
Elizabeth Dandy
