THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

 

Candlemas Day,

The festival of lights

40 days after Epiphany

Is celebrated to mark

The Presentation of Christ

In The Temple,

IMBOLC

 

Imbolc, on February 1^st

Is one of the four

Gaelic seasonal festivals

Imbolc marks

The beginning of spring

And the end winter.

Celebrated with feasting,

The making of Brighid's crosses,

The holy wells are visited,

And divination begins

SAINT BRIGIT OF KILDARE

 

Saint Brigit of Kildare

Or Brigid of Ireland

Also known as Mary of the Gael

Is one of Ireland's patron Saints

Along with Patrick and Columba

Her mother was Brocca

A Christian Pict and slave,

Baptised by Saint Patrick

Brigid herself was born into slavery

But it was clear she was holy

An became an early Christian nun

When she became Abbess,

She founded Kildare monastery

The Church of the Oak,

On the site of an old pagan shrine

To the Celtic goddess Brigid

 

Feast day 1^st February

THE FEAST DAY OF SAINT BRIGIT

 

The feast day of Saint Brigit

Is an Irish National Day

When the Irish people

Celebrate Saint Brigit's Day

GOD IS

 

God is goodness

God is love

God and love

Go hand in glove

 

God is blessed

God is hope

God and hope

Will help us cope

 

God is loving

God is peace

God and peace

Will never cease

 

God is patient

God is grace

God and grace

Hold us in embrace

 

God is goodness

God is love

God and love

Go hand in glove

IN GOD’S NAME

 

In God’s name, for centuries

They waged their holy wars

Singing songs to God

As they march in their corps

 

In God’s name, across the years

From home to foreign shores

Tit for tat acts of religious hate

Are used to settle scores

 

God’s names, Jehovah, God or Allah

Differ only by rules and law

Although God by any name

Does not encourage acts of war

 

In God’s name, even to this day

They are prepared to fight and die

And beneath their holy banners

They use God as a battle cry

 

In God’s name, war is waged

And for every soul who dies

God sits on his throne in heaven

With sadness in his eyes

 

In God’s name, preach only peace

God is there for all humanity

In God’s name, put down your swords

His gift is love to all who see

THE GOOD CITIZEN

 I am twenty one years old

And was raised in the proper way

To abide by the laws of land

And to live by the rules every day

 

I was raised to apply common sense

To any action I might make

And to use my own judgment

And not to fear making a mistake

 

I was raised to respect myself

And respect others at the same time

I was raised to respect the law

And not to resort to crime

 

I was raised to think for myself

And given the tools to do so

I was taught the right from wrong

And how to behave and how to say no

 

I loved my life and I was happy

I had a good job which paid very well

A large circle of great friends

And a shiny new car I called Annabel

 

So when I went to a party with friends

To celebrate a twenty first birthday

I drove their in my beloved Annabel

And drank only coke to my friends dismay

 

I remembered what I was taught

And I didn't drink and drive

Despite pressure from my piers

I made a conscious choice to stay alive

 

I had a good time at the party

And I was proud of myself for my stance

I had a good time at the party

Though friends teased me for my abstinence

 

All too soon the party ended

And we hugged and kissed our goodnights

Then we all went our separate ways

I got into Annabel and turned on the lights

 

I drove off safe in the knowledge

I had done the right thing staying dry

I observed all the speed restrictions

Not realizing I was soon about to die

I’m standing on the roadside

And see my broken body on the ground

Poor Annabel is smashed to pieces

With men in uniforms all around

A young man was led away in handcuffs

It seems he was a drink driver

All his passengers were also dead

He was drunk and the only survivor

 

If he had been taught as I was

I would not now be lying dead

If he had been taught as I was

The road would not be coloured red

 

In my short life I was a good person

I was a good daughter to my parents

A good sister to my young brother

And good to my friends and confidents

 

There is so much I will now never do

My life will never be fulfilled

I was a good citizen until today

When through selfishness I was killed