Denain Poem by STANLEY PACION

You were born a Catholic and God cherished you.
But your having forgotten His Mercy -
That all outcome of human endeavor,
His Will, not your own - angered the Almighty.
He delivered you into the hands of the Heretics.
You suffered at Hochstedt and at Ramilles.
Yet when you returned to the Lord,
Thanking Him for all that He visits upon you,
The Lord saw your gratitude,
And knew that you had been restored to wisdom.
He blessed your courage at Denain.