I am so happy to celebrate St. Brigid's Feast Day -- especially as I have learned that in addition to being an excellent dairy maid (and therefore patron saint of farmers), she was especially fond of beer. We have been learning how to home brew beer (first batch was a successful dark beer with a mild head and not too bitter.) So as we begin our next batch (a lager this time) I will make my prayers to St. Brigid for a good brew and share this delicious poem she wrote -- she does make it sound like my kind of party. A great lake of beer!
The Heavenly Banquet
Ascribed to St. Brigid of IrelandI would like to have the men of Heaven
in my own house;
with vats of good cheer
laid out for them.I would like to have the three Marys,
their fame is so great.
I would like people
from every corner of Heaven.I would like them to be cheerful
in their drinking.
I would like to have Jesus, too,
here amongst them.I would like a great lake of beer
for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family
Drinking it through all eternity.
Art: John McKirdy Duncan, "St. Brigid of Kildare." Go here to see a very, very large file of this gorgeous and detailed painting.
Midori Snyder is the author of nine books for children and adults, published in English, French, Dutch, and Italian. She won the Mythopoeic Award for The Innamorati, a novel inspired by early Roman myth and the Italian "Commedia dell'Arte" tradition....
