March 1997

The God of my youth was a Lutheran God,
A Triune; a proper three-seater;
And unlike the Catholics (mere Pagans in drag)
We knew not to worship St. Peter!

Of course they had Mary, a virgin no less,
With halo, and angels to greet her;
She'd decorate pageants, parades and revues-
At Christmas you just couldn't beat her.

St. Patrick was also their private domain,
With Shamrocks and booze by the liter;
I'd wear my orange ribbon (my envy pure green)-
Drab Luther was not a compete-er!

Though saint-less and pope-less, we knew we were right,
And this made our Fridays much sweeter;
While they choked on fish bones (filleted their own souls),
I gloated, a true hot-dog-eater!

The Church reigned supreme, though, for hundreds of years,
Though Protestants tried to unseat Her;
The torrents of blood that were spilled in the quest
Were still not enough to defeat Her.

So few now remember the Orange and the Green-
The Church's dark stains that precede Her;
Instead mugs are hoisted on St. Patty's Day,
As celebrants totter and teeter.

But kindness and tolerance must win the day!
Avoid every bigotry-breeder!
Beliefs can be challenged, but folks are still folks-
Though most still play Follow-The-Leader.

So let's lighten up on this St. Patty's Eve-
Consider my thoughts in this meter;
I'll raise my own glass in a toast to us all-
I hope you'll do likewise, dear reader!

© 1997 by Judith Hayes

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