For the Feast of St. David
Patron of Wales and My Namesake
Today, as I nearly forgot, is the feast of St. David of Wales. St. David’s story is a fascinating one and I recommend you look him up. He is a patron of poets and vegetarians as well as being the patron saint of Wales in general (amongst other things). He is attributed with making the Welsh dish Welsh rarebit (sometimes called Welsh rabbit), a cheese and beer and toast concoction which I will be enjoying this evening.
I am almost certain I was not named after St. David. I doubt my birth-parents even had King David in mind when they gave me my name. Nevertheless, I have claimed him as my own. He was a missionary, a preacher of the gospel, a poet, and most importantly, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
So in honor of St. David, here is my poem about him from my first poetry collection, The Green Man.
“St. David” Dewi o Gymru, poetry’s patron, We anglicized your name and called you David. You spread in Wales the knowledge of salvation, Yet you cared for creatures too, you were not craven, Thinking all things existed just for our use. You gave us bread and beer and cheese to feed The poor, so God’s creatures would not be abused. You preached the Truth and set the sinners free. And now, my namesake, I ask you for your prayers. You and I are poets like the king Who came before us. Please help me sing new airs And with beloved David reach out and bring Me to new heights that I may see Through eyes like yours, may see reality.