On Being Patricius

Patricius,
Fifth century, Romano-British missionary.

Not born a slave,
born a grandson of a Christian Bishop.

Born free and then enslaved,
captured by Irish raiders,
taken, to care for sheep.

Escaped, six years later, no longer,
a slave.

Returns again, to his beloved Ireland,
there to serve the remainder of his days.

With him, comes Christianity,
knowledge, and learning. 

One generation, or two,
out of Paganism and human sacrifice. 

He instills a love in them,
a love of literature, art, and learning,
then a desire to serve, all mankind.

They begin to capture and copy books,
as they arrive in Ireland, 
and build vast libraries, from the skins,
of the sheep Patricus tended,
as a youth.

With the destruction of Western Roman Civilization,
and their libraries, the Irish Pagans, now Christian missionaries,
are then prepared to restore, this learning and knowledge,
to the world.

This, then, is a marvelous work,
it begins, among men

"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Isiah 29:14