A daughter faithful and obedient,
She watched the sheep of her strict father’s herd,
When words reached her she failed to understand,
Like dress in soldiers’ garb and wield a sword.


The Maid recalled the ancient prophesy
Of glory, triumph and sad earthly fate-
The voice spoke: “Hurry Joan, lest you be late
To lead your stricken land to victory”

“Go to the Dauphin who is squirming now,
Ignore if courtiers sneer or look askance,
And when you find young Charles, hail him, bow!
And then crown him at Rheims as king of France!”

“St. Michael leads your army, so fear not!
St. Catherine herself will hold your sword.
They’ll guide your horse to gallop or to trot,
Be friendly with the fighters, kind, but curt”.





The Maid again obeyed the solemn word,
And gave her army glorious victory,
And by most grueling trials undeterred
Fulfilled the prophesy and destiny.

Betrayed, - as once her Master was - the stake
Awaiting the brave champion of Love,
And bitter suffering in victory’s wake
As from her pyre’s flames soared forth the dove.





© Elizabeth Dandy

Feast of St. Joan of Arc, May 30th 2005

Like the gods about whom Homer sang, Saints have been known to take a partisan interest in mortals' politics, as when in the year 1426, the 89th year of the 100 year war that St, Michael, St. Margaret and St. Catherine decided to assist the Valois party of Charles of Orleans against his rivals, the Burgundians and their English allies.

As prophesied, , a young farm teenager, was the instrument of Divine intervention
She led the French army as per her voices and visions victoriously, but was captured at Campiègne by the Burgundians and sold to the English.
Her own king, true toad, did nothing to either ransom or, had no interest to rescue her, and after her refusal to deny her voices at the famous trial of Joan of Arc. she was burned at the stake as a heretic under the Bishop Cochon of Beauvais.
Canonized in 1921 many cathedrals are dedicated to St. Joan of Arc.