Kyrie Eleison Poem by Elia Michael

Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy

Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy
Byzantine chants ancient and holy
Smoky incense, prayers to the Almighty
Here in church are Elias and Tony

That's my cardigan! Tony does shout
No it's not! I say indignantly
Ready to scrap like many a lout
The priest looks at us thunderously

Kyrie eleison! He swears and more besides
In a Greek no longer ancient and divine
Tones of mainland Greek come to mind
Foreign, but no mistaking his woe-betides

What unmentionable sin?
What trouble are we in?
How dared we be so bold
To disturb this ceremony of old!

All is still, all heads turn as one to us
Blood rushes to our frightful faces
For we have defiled this holiest of places
Then a miracle - the priest's face changes

What took place in his unfathomable mind
Nobody knows
Perhaps he remembered Christ and little children
God alone knows

Tony and Elias are now forgiven
Just children being - well children
The censer jingle-jangles its spicy scents
To the rhythmic beauty of Byzantine chants

Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy