Friday, January 22, 2010

St. Vincent of Saragossa (patron of São Vicente, Lisbon; Vicenza, Italy, vinegar-makers, wine-makers)

from across the field,

it looked like a pool

so black


like a hole to the center

of the Earth, a portal

through which you could

forget everything



as the foxes swept nearer,

like flames through the wheat


the black mass shuddered,

hovered above the body

like a vestment, then one flew


a single bird against

the sky


an unkindness

of ravens


to mourn the dead


________________


According to legend, after being martyted, ravens protected St. Vincent's body from being devoured by wild animals, until his followers could recover the body. His body was taken to what is now known as Cape St. Vincent; a shrine was erected over his grave, which continued to be guarded by flocks of ravens. - Wikipedia


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