Saint Anthony of Padua

by David W. Landrum

Saint looked to for the fertility of domestic animals.

Saint Anthony, the saint of Padua,
holy anointer of the meadow-bull,
is called upon by herdsman to bestow
his blessing and to make their pastures full—

the saint who reached his hand, grasped the baton
from old pagan Priapus, seized the rod
and sprinted. Though the ancient faith was gone,
he took the torch straight from a heathen god

and carried on the legacy of Pan,
Faunus and Inuus. His saintly grip
served to advance the fire; lest what began
in paganism’s old purview should slip:

the relay of fertility, I mean.
Our age inseminates with artifice.
Nevertheless, our primal sense of green
stays hard, firm, source of offspring, seat of bliss.

© 2007 by David W. Landrum