Saint Francis and the Animals
(4 October)
Eight hundred years
Ago in the
Middle part of Italy,
A person walked and others
Walked with him
But when he tried to preach
No one would hear;
So he spoke his message
Unto the birds
The raccoons (in my telling)
And all things that crept
Or flew through the air
He would return to people:
He visited the pope
He met with the sultan of
The Muslim warriors who
Fought in Jerusalem,
Because he hoped
That peace as a cause
Might overwhelm
The rest
That keeps
Getting in our way
clcouch123 
September 28, 2016 at 9:11 pm
A wonderful poem about great man. He had so many hopes, wishes people could be better. But I imagine, then like today, those in the darkness of their lives, didn’t see the light St Francis was offering.
September 29, 2016 at 1:40 am
Thanks, Amanda, for your appraisal of the poem and the life of Francis. It was hard and fraught with rejection. He left a legacy of reform, at least, and those who still come to the wise and simple way of faith he prescribed. And he encourages us to love animals (yay!).
September 29, 2016 at 10:10 am
wow. your wise words about a wise and honorable man worked so well, brother! ❤
September 30, 2016 at 2:27 am
Thank you, sister! I’m drawn to Francis and his spirituality. Simplicity and peace. Truly good values.
September 30, 2016 at 4:59 am
Oh I see some of him in you. 😉 No doubt he influenced you.