Knox's Lament in Geneva

Here is a poem that I wrote from the perspective of John Knox during his time in Geneva in the 1550s, before his eventual return to Scotland where he led the reformation of the Scottish church from 1559-1572.

Knox's Lament in Geneva

How I remember those days of youth 

When I stood with Wishart, that man of truth 

How that brave man followed Hamilton's fall, 

By dying in fire, gave Scotland the call 

To rise in repentance with faith in God 

To worship Him only, and Him to laud 

But then, alas, in St. Andrew's walls 

Serving God's people, rich, common, an' all 

The Papist French, with their galleys strong 

Took us captive and used us wrong 

And while a poor galley slave, I sent out this cry 

"O Lord, give me Scotland before I do die!" 

After eighteen months, at last I's set free 

But Scotland was still forbidden to me 

To England I went, to preach God's Word loud 

To bring down God's Spirit on that Saxon crowd 

But after success for a blessed time 

We were all chased out by Queen Mary's crime 

And now 'tis Geneva, the light on the hill 

I now look upon from my widow sill 

Learning from Calvin, that reformer great 

And others whose wise words I now contemplate 

Sitting midst riches of God's gifts to men 

Where truth is unhindered, and near all say "amen!" 

But still how I lang for my dear native soil,

Among mine ain people to sweat, bleed, and toil 

From the poor plooman laddie, in his humble cot 

To the laird of mine fathers in his station and lot 

"O humble yourselves in the moss and the dew 

And pray that Jehovah would Scotland renew!"