Tuesday, May 30, 2023

The Maid of Orleans

 Today is the feast of St. Jehanne d'Arc, usually known in English as Joan of Arc.


Jehanne D'Arc 

 A quiet garden path
      (St. Michael be our guide)
with scent of spring and day,
a field both green and wide,
and a girl-- 

 and beauty bright and bold
      (St. Catherine, for us pray)
and fierce but calm resolve
(with militance like May)
of a girl-- 

 the hope that step by step
      (St. Margaret, lend your aid)
will charge the raging host
and face the swinging blade
as a girl-- 

 by one bright thread are bound
      (Lord Jesus, give us grace)
with frame of twining flame
and eyes set in the face
of a girl....