St. Brigid to Brigid of Danu By Anne Fricke

Oh, bright flame of the dawn, You,

who came before me and still breathe into the forge,

whisper into the ears of poets, long after my bones

have ground into dust upon the earth, I held your place

 

claimed it for my own—but what choice did I have?

Patrick had arrived, cast his fire atop the Hill of Slaine

brought my God to your people

 

But you were fading already, your son’s deceit

bleeding tradition onto the battlefield, the blood of matriarchal

death seeping into the soil to find underground waterways

You taught the women a way to mourn, cried your grief

into the air—weeping and shrieking from your loss, our

loss, onto the soul of this land

 

gave them power to lament—if that is any consolation

for your loss—the beginning of the end

for the Old Ways, I tried to honor you well, held your place

 

with dignity, performed miracles in salvation of the poor

and women in desperation, founded schools of art, metalwork,

illumination, some even say I rescued my God’s son,

 

wrapped the infant in my mantle and fled

beneath the shadows of Herrod’s slaughter

I saved a son, as you could not save your own

 

We kept your fires lit, guarded by women of worship

Are the details of who important? Our name travels across lands

spoken on lips in unison with end-of-winter’s hope

 

The people remember. Are we so different?

a Goddess and a Saint—one is to be revered, the other

devotes her life in reverence, perhaps…perhaps I am

 

but a glimmer of your existence, But still, I have tried

to honor you well, the fires of your creation remain lit, Your well calls

them home, and whether it is You they seek, or I,

 

the people still come to us to pray.

 

Anne Fricke is a poet, author, storyteller, podcast host, wife, and mother. She lives in far Northern California, writes daily, and travels when she can. Raised by a strong, outspoken, agnostic mother in the Bible Belt, Anne was gratefully able to find her way to the Divine Feminine as a young woman, with little baggage attached.You can read more of her work at annefricke.com.