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“A candle burning before a sacred shrine …” by Patrick Kavanagh 🇮🇪 (21 Oct 190430 Nov 1967)
A candle burning before a sacred shrine
Sculpturing shadow-saints on the transept
Grotesque and full of fearful mystery
Dark wonder of the terrible fate of Christ.
The wine-dipped bread for me and I, Judas
Eating Damnation to my fitful ghost.
“One of you here is about to betray
The Son of Man. But woe unto that man,”
I heard and almost prayer disturbed my lips
Yet no prayer. Crumpled of soul I went
Out into the fields of death where never
Quivers a candle-light.