The Song of Angels

Fighting Words 2021: A poem by James Fennell (15), Templecarrig School, Greystones, Co Wicklow

Photograph: iStock

The Song of Angels

It's night's first dawn and so God commanded
The music monosyllabic and the words so candid
'We beseech thee, O LORD, pour Thy grace into our hearts'
Teach us your ways 'til our soul departs

James Fennell

I can hear Thy cries from the holy tower bell
For a life without God is a life set for hell
With proclamations of 'Hail Mary' and unwavering devotion
Promulgating this most holy notion

For our trials of yesterday, we'll remember them today
This is our hour, so let us pray.
Thy gospel renounced by your son, the priest
The sound alone, unites us towards Thy speech

But I must go now, for the seasons are falling
The times have changed, and the Angelus is calling.
To purge all my heresies of thought, speech and pen
Through the same Christ our Lord. I'll call out, Amen

Fighting Words is an Irish charity that helps children and adults to develop their creative writing skills. This is part of their annual publication with The Irish Times