The Day of Saints - Day 39, Germanus revisited

The Priory Church at St Germans

To bring this project in to land, two more poems - one today and one tomorrow.

The first is a rewriting of the poem for Germanus.

Troparion

Far back in time a saint, Germanus,

Challenged a Pelagian hoard,

to quiet them with little fuss

through love, so now we ask, too, Lord,

some servant-like humilty

As then he showed to bear your name,

So all those bounded by the sea

From Morwenstow around to Rame

Can glimpse the kindness of the Son

And whole become in each respect,

when loved into the kingdom, won

by love that transcends human sect

But, oh, we are a stony lot

And pride takes over us like gorse

We’re quick to race with what we’ve got

Like fleas that cling on to a horse

The battle far exceeding us

Which we forget en route to war

We set out like Pelagius

A home-made banner to the fore

Have mercy, we misplace our trust

We cannot speak unless you say

For we are animated dust

Blown hopeless should you turn away

What victory is there to reach

Unless in you our faith resides?

Worth less than shingle on the beach

Yet if we’re washed within your tides

We’ll ‘Alleluia’ cry, once more

From Bodmin’s heights to Scilly’s floor

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