Tinder and Flint Transcended
An excellent song in response to extremely bad poetry.
With thanks to Aodhan for the inspiration. To the following tune or Kingsfold.
Brandr’s Cant
How long to wait, while grows God's hate
Gainst them with foreign eyes,
How much longer will you retain your skill,
To lounge in their filth and lies.
For new light's tint and a hopeful glint,
Shines bright in the sight of the Lord.
And this device, from Paradise
Shows forth in the flaming sword!
The ashes doubt, "Is the fire out?"
The embers having naught to burn
And the twigs deride,
God won't provide,
Yet the tinder and the flint still yearn.
The sword He flung, when the world was young,
For a comfort both and a guide,
For the flesh is earth and the plow on her girth
Slides forth as the sword is plied.
As His blood came down, thorn formed a crown
And the dust no more was dry.
Our fathers gave life through toil and strife,
For the Garden's fruits grew high.
[Refrain]
We grew drunk on wine, and the foreign vine
Saw chance and sent its shoots up here
And the barren fig at our roots doth dig
With the Devil's same servants leer.
Now Babel is built with the lily's gilt
And this harvest is all our own,
We forgot the Lord and His Holy Word
And the half drawn sword, His Throne!
[Refrain]
Yet the Lord is fair, we behold the tare,
And a harvest is now at hand,
It is bid to us, that we do it thus:
Lop the grown weeds with God's brand.
And the barren tree, that our Lord's mercy
Gave seasons to bear good fruit,
Many years have flown and the truth is known:
We're to burn both stock and root!
[Refrain]
The darnels scorch while the flaming torch
And its bearers will fetch no harm,
Yet to light the lint with only flint
Is too much for the doughtiest arm,
From Crete to Norge none can work the forge
For the world and its soul to heal.
Yet Jesus Christ through His Sacrifice,
To the tinder and flint strikes steel!
The ashes doubt, "Is the fire out?"
Yet embers've new fuel to churn
Though the twigs deride,
God didst provide,
And the sword with the faggots doth burn.
Envoi:
God forgives your guilt, take up the hilt
Of Dyrnwyn that's yours to bear
The sword is bound, yet on Eden's ground
Burns not a thing that's fair.