We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Ballad of St Christopher

from All The Saints by Bardonthewire

/

about

Fring All Saints is at the bottom of the Norfolk lane where I live and leads (through gates made in Frome) to a giant and splendid faded St Christopher in his usual station opposite its south door. He emerges headless there from Reformation whitewash. He is the patron saint of travellers, who traditionally could see him as they passed a church's door and thus be protected on their day's journey.

lyrics

The giant said to the hermit,
"As a youth I waxed in my pride,
Overpowered all comers at games
Then I put childish things aside.
"As a man I donned sword and armour
And served the world's greatest king
Till I saw him in terror of Satan,
Such a coward was not worth serving.
"At the heart of the darkest dark forest
I found Satan holding court.
'Are you then the world's strongest monarch?'
'I am.' 'Then it's you that I've sought.'
"But a cross made King Satan cower.
'Do you fear a small piece of wood?!'
'Not the cross but He who once hung there.'
So to Him would I go, if I could.
"And I've followed this still voice within me
On the trail of that strongest one
To your cell, so, hermit, now tell me
Of this terrible Christ who was hung."
"Not by fighting but fighting evil,"
The hermit replied, "we deserve
This Christ who fears nothing and no-one,
And whom only the bravest can serve."
"But God gave me might for a reason!"
The hermit replied, 'Then dwell here
On the bank of this wild angry river
And carry poor travellers over."
So he lives until one night a child comes
Whom he carries into the stream
Whose slightness grows ever more heavy
Till his mighty legs bow at the knee.
"You’re the heaviest burden I've carried,"
He says as he sets the child down,
"How can littleness be so colossal?"
Then a great glory shines around.
From within it, the child speaks softly,
"I bear all the sins of the world,
All its sorrows, for I am the Christ child,"
- The mighty man's senses whirl -
"And because you’ve been kind to the weakest
And borne Christ upon your back,
'Christopher' I call you… " and vanished,
The star in our midnight black.
"Not by fighting but fighting evil,"
The hermit replied, "we deserve
This Christ who fears nothing and no-one,
And whom only the bravest can serve."

credits

from All The Saints, released May 1, 2020
Gareth Calway - words, voice.
The photograph of St Christopher on the wall of Fring All Saints is credited. The poet was scheduled to read the poem from under this painting as part of a Compline Service on the Monday of Holy Week at Easter 2020 but God and the coronavirus had other ideas. It was recorded and broadcast online from lockdown in Sedgeford instead.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Bardonthewire image

Bardonthewire England, UK

Performance poetry with a library card (voice & drum, folk ballads, ghazals, sonnets, beat poems, sound poems, raps) much of it happening 'on the street' or jostling to be heard in the tavern. Researched stories of folk heroes and real folk. History for you. Bardic poetry striving (as all arts do) for the condition of music (from punk though rap to to prog). Visionary lit. for your average Blake. ... more

contact / help

Contact Bardonthewire

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Bardonthewire, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring interviews with LA music scene pillar Kamasi Washington, and new London-based duo Mrcy.

listen now