Explore "St. Laurence" by Joyce Kilmer on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Within the broken Vatican / The murdered Pope is lying dead. / The soldiers of Valerian / Their evil hands are wet and red.
Unarmed, unmoved, St. Laurence waits, / His cassock is his only mail. / The troops of Hell have burst the gates, / But Christ is Lord, He shall prevail.
They have encompassed him with steel, / They spit upon his gentle face, / He smiles and bleeds, nor will reveal / The Church's hidden treasure-place.
Ah, faithful steward, worthy knight, / Well hast thou done. Behold thy fee! / Since thou hast fought the goodly fight / A martyr's death is fixed for thee.
St. Laurence, pray for us to bear / The faith which glorifies thy name. / St. Laurence, pray for us to share / The wounds of Love's consuming flame.