Member Poem

“Le Sage De Jehanne La Pucelle” (“The Saga of Joan The Maid”) A Sonnet Redoublè
 
1.      A Question Of Faith.
 
So often heard, of visions and the fire.
The horrors, tragedy, from turn to turn.
Accused of heresy, decried a liar.
Aware are all of how, lo, I did burn
Grotesque indeed was favor here, again.
When coals to person mine, alive, I cried.
My due for serving Armagnac as wren,
And for such succor, O, how I’d be tried.
But know so few of person’s horrid fate,
Again, twice charred, so memory not save.
And dust did blow, at river Seine’s fair gate.
And in that pool, see you my ebbing grave.
Fear not below of visions, oh so stark,
Of voices—saints, to me, one Joan of Arc.
 
2.      My Earthly Assent.
 
Of voices—saints, to me, one Joan of Arc.
The first to come, of note, by him of den.
And last, revealed, in final book remark,
As I beheld, this one of scales, again.
He told of chaste, the both to pass enshrined,
As would the teller of this tale evolve,
Who looked above.  For mortal, never pined.
And, lo, such sins would He need not absolve.
Their counsel, sage, did guide in martial game,
The words they spoke, conviction in me strong.
Defense of France, my noble quest became.
From light so bright, the win, would not be long,
So bright the light, far more than earthly fire,
Imploring me to ouster English sire. 
 
3.       Our Victorious March.
 
Imploring me to ouster English Sire,
Was mission mine, we marched toward River Loire.
Marina’s voice, so sweet, as from a lyre.
And thus we marched, a month short of Adar.
Attacked did we, Le Bastille de St. Loup.
Within an inch of lives theirs, did we thrash.
Save cowards bidding early their adieu.
For whom my plaintive plea, did Ares clash.
And so did lift the siege of Orleans.
Convincing win, Paucelle at last, now joins
The noble arms, belonged of second John.
Complaints not heard, for guarding my chaste loins.
Our mission now, escape the battle dark,
And bring to Reims, Dauphin, to disembark.
 
4.       A King’s Rightful Place.
 
And bring to Reims, Dauphin, to disembark.
At first, when bolt did find mine shoulder ripe.
Descend the walls and flee did all remark.
Evade attacks, escape from one more snipe.
Into the wood, rode I.  Advice Divine:
Return to walls, their wills, by you impressed;
Resistance fell, to us they did resign.
All form of opposition was suppressed,
From siege to Reim we marched, my bandage clutched.
As ne’er a drop of maiden’s blood did spill.
Upon the head of Charles, his crown did touch.
At last, was thought, climbed we, the highest hill.
Betrayal and desertion, now unfold,
Of tragedy is tale of mine oft told.
 
5.      Captured.
 
Of tragedy is tale of mine oft told.
Though many think they know the reasons why.
Timidity my curse, He made me bold.
Ensnare the girl became their battle cry.
In education, lo, did I much lack.
Illiterate this churl to them did seem.
Inquisitors rejoiced in their attack
Of Joan, before tribunal quite supreme.
Humility, must I now exercise
In telling tale of literary bout.
They, with their books, perverse persuasion, lies,
As tongue stood straight, the match became a rout.
Yet power theirs, to make the maid comply.
Refused, did I, my heart, ‘fore court, deny.
 
6.       All The While, A Maid.
 
Refused, did I, my heart, ‘fore court, deny.
Inquired of me about my days of youth,
Of what I heard, and what I saw, in sky.
“The truth, the truth, of nothing but the truth.”
I vowed, unstained, was I before the trial.
My word, meant naught, and so they brought the nurse.
Portending lies, they waited with a smile.
Till news returned, ‘twas none that was adverse.
At last, began interrogation mine.
At every turn, about the oath, we sparred,
As mute, they scorned, about discourse, Divine,
And to my truths, their curses, I discard.
Veracity, to none did I withhold,
Though knew the price I’d pay for stance, so bold.
 
7.      A Loss Of Virtue.
 
Though knew the price I’d pay for stance, so bold .
The smears from one usurper, nomme’ Pierre.
Achieved their goal of running blood, mine, cold.
Was I, a thing that all should so beware?
Frustration theirs, did spread about the court.
Intimidations fell on my deaf ears.
While jabs at me, were made of every sort,
Aware not they of any of my fears.
And for my pose, so staunch, I forced to don,
Not soldier’s garb, to aid me stay a maid,
But frock to aid the guards when sun be gone.
And when was pierced, still I was not afraid.
Frustrated tries to scare , that I might die,
T’would less have been, but for the sake of lie.
 
8.      Alas, A Charge Prevails.
 
T’would  less have been, but for the sake of lie.
Prevarications vile spewed forth from mouth
Of one so base, salvation, found on High,
Was only succor due this tongue uncouth.
Despite the promises of peace, lupine.
Was captured I, yet Charles, did offer fee.
Lo, Burgundy demanded trial mine.
Another day of freedom I’d not see.
Ironic, though my tale now oddly turns.
Not heresy, nor wicked craft brought fire.
The harbinger that draped about my burns;
While standard flew, wore I a man’s attire.
When this life done, He gives me one, anew
‘Tis point forgot by all, save but a few:
 
9.       ‘Twas But, A Momentary Stop.
 
‘Tis point forgot by all, save but a few:
When Domremy did burn upon a raid.
Survived my father’s fescue whence they drew,
And those first words to me that Michael said.
 Was sealed my fate for He brought all to bear.
Amiss, cannot be any venture born.
Of His divinely guiding hand, I swear,
On this, and nothing more; ground none to mourn.
For glorious a purpose to so serve,
That one beholds an angel and two saints.
What more could one in life on earth deserve?
Reply is “naught,” complete, without complaints.
Of no import a curse that I, they’d maim.
For only He could save me from the flame. 
 
10.  Render Unto God, What Is God’s.
 
For only He could save me from the flame.
Yes, Him, who came and bore me with free will
That I choose not, to live my life the same;
That I might soar, while others stood there still.
‘Twas I, who chose, to tell the King, of sound,
And guide an army ‘gainst his foes so fierce.
In men’s attire, I lead the force all ’round
The fort, as bolt, my shoulder it did pierce. 
‘Twere earthly moves that brought me to this place,
Not His.  For me he planned a higher plane.
A peasant girl upon a ray of grace,
Arose from ashes; breathed the air again.
And from that world I cheerily withdrew.
As He, now brought upon me, life anew.
 
11.   New Eyes Were Given Me.
 
As He now brought upon me, life anew.
Creator, Lord of all who made the earth,
And sky.  To Him my heart, it did accrue,
And lo, through Him, soul mine, attained rebirth.
New life was mine, that I might spread the word
Against Burgundian and foes, the Brits.
For war, attired, with armour, loins to gird,
And aid the cause as much as He permits.
Accused, berated, named a heretic.
A witch, consorting, Beelzebub, his call.
Misplaced my senses, I, a lunatic.
Alas, to dress, a man, my fate, befell.
Yet from those firey coals of wicked blame,
His Love hath freed me from this earthly shame.
 
12.   A Brilliant Light.
 
His Love hath freed me from this earthly shame.
No more am I their scorned and golden calf.
Recipient of accusations lame,
Except for fine so stark, deserving laugh.
No longer must I face the nightly rapes.
Humiliation, mockeries so sad,
That from this life, a tragic one escapes,
No matter style in which she may be clad.
My path to come upon Saint Peter’s gates,
Beyond the purging pass where I did trod.
Unburdened, I, of all those earthly weights,
Departing those from Eden’s Land of Nod,
Traversing trail of herald mine, the Dove.
For now, with Him, am I in realm above,
 
13.   Reunion.
 
For now, with Him, am I in realm above.
And angels, all, who formed cortege sublime
of Saint who guarded me as hand in glove.
At last, at last, has come my sacred time.
Was taught and trained from earliest of years,
To e’er love Him with all my earthly heart.
Remain steadfast, yield not, to any fears.
And bound for Heaven I should then depart.
Despite the portents, how lead I the day.
This peasant, though she lacked required strength,
But He reached down and showed me lighted way.
A brilliance now appears on me, at length.
My life was spent, this place, I, dreaming of,
Ne’er else, was I, to ever know such Love.
 
14.   A Love I Never Knew.
 
Ne’er else, was I, to ever know such Love,
To now, behold the Glory of this place.
My blessed soul, should never to remove,
And always lie in the splendor of His grace.
To know true Love, impossible on earth.
We prayed, and penanced, hoping for to learn
Sensations grand of being in His worth.
Yet still, in need, his Love, my sins to burn.
My arms, aspread, ingesting all He gives.
No form, have I, but one of joyous glow.
For now my heart, in Him, forever lives.
Oh Lord, this Gift, on me, You did bestow.
So seldom sung, this chorus from the choir,
So often heard, of visions, and the fire.
 
15.   Eternally His.
 
So often heard, of visions and the fire.
Of voices—saints, to me, one Joan of Arc,
Imploring me to ouster English sire,
And bring to Reims, Dauphin, to disembark.
Of tragedy is tale of mine oft told.
Refused, did I, my heart, fore court, deny.
Knew I the price I’d pay for stance, so bold,
T’would less have been, but for the sake of lie.
‘ Tis point forgot by all, save but a few:
For only, He could save me from the flame;
As He, now brought upon me, life anew:
His love hath freed me from this earthly shame.
For now, with Him, am I in realm above,
Ne’er else, was I, to ever know such Love.
 
 
FINIS