So I'm the Patron Saint of Ireland

March 16, 2017

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is national identity, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17, and Purim, which fell on March 11 and 12.

Today’s poem is from St. Patrick to those possessed of racial hatred about the need for love.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

So I’m the patron saint of Ireland!

Then let me be for it a sign of peace.

Perhaps few know that I was born in England

And always thought of England as my home.

There was no England then, of course, nor Ireland.

Regardless, here’s an irony that should

Inhabit those possessed by racial hatred:

Come to love even those who wrong you,

Knowing I was an English slave in Ireland.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/soimth.html. For more St. Patrick’s Day poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: National Identity

March 13: Going Home to a Place You’ve Never Been

March 14: Praised Be Those Who Remember to Remember

March 15: Let There Be One Race – The Human Race

March 16: So I’m the Patron Saint of Ireland