separated by vows of abstinence but
forever bonded by Light entwined
two parallel Orders twinned
in material poverty firm endured
with One Heart beating to
missions of Love ordained
in living Truth never adjourned
vessels of opposite gender
each frolicking happy dancing
and singing as children of
holy futures Assissi blessed
two exceptional mortals no less
became Christ sacrosanct obsessed
she first saw him as a child
of twelve when young
Francesco Bernadone bent
over a wretch of woe listening
a vivid vignette of compassion
embodied bestowed twin soul
recognition of fated heavenly love
unconsummated engraven
Lady Pica and Lady Ortolana
both mothers knew their children
were of The Chosen, whose
perfected grace was authority itself
subjugating Popes equal to merchants
or serfs, twins not to be ignored
dismissed or relegated unearthed
she fair haired and tall unflinching
Divinity pinpointed her evangelical
deliverance to Francis untainted
His Will she imbibed in chastity
at eighteen, a cycle complete ready
for the compliance of echoed escape
through backdoor of elegant luxury
she wanted not conventional
sitting in churches high and dry
neither a convent life appendaged
to noble homes of embroidery hooks
gossip and creamy jovial cooks
to go and cut fair locks then don
the crossed heart was her woven
art to start for sure some more
confronting the Monk unashamedly
too shocked he austerely withdrew
then saw the Will written in her
stature intercessed knew, it was
she to be
speechlessly she cried out to him
“Take me away !”
as she delivered her aching soul
his eyes remained on ground
two shattering simplicities in
terrible confrontation ~ Francisco
was taking no risks with this patrician
feminine of ardent Heart, but pierce
of Will of God he could not ignore
when buds were thick on a Palm Sunday
dressed in nobility gear, Heart torn apart
none in cathedral could hear soul rejoice
gracious secure domestic life she fled
relinquishing furs and satins to bleed
for hardship with zero vice bursting
virtues, emotions ripped to shreds
into his wood Clare went to declare
her love for the Christ with open weep
flowers, trees, birds blue joyful peeped
she had to do what Francis had done
shun normal human life for the ONE
daughters as well as sons were His
desire to keep sacred Love higher
no turning back at nineteen years of
age with bonded Love no eyes could
see or earthly arms could hold dear
into a fold of aligning human Heart
with Divine injunction none could part
self dies and dies some more mere cart
dark night after dark night only He
could lift in Time convoluted sore
by suffering the blessed had to
endure in quietude sure beautitude
paths alongside they curious exquisite
treaded in tandem spacious holiness
masculine and feminine power sang
single songs of simplicity sheltered
their duties inescapable to beggars
Popes, robbers or mothers against
all odds in Italy’s mean hours keen
rays wooded in lily altars without falter
enclosures unseen subjugating halter
all to the fire of Light
they did what they had to do
in the moment of each moment
never flinching from resolve of
tender humility or severe austerity
her courage the masculine
toughness of a fighter
his the feminine quality of
soft suppliance, the only luxuries
speeches of birds, insects and flowers
their power silently firmly earned
devotion leading them to dark
corners in secret lonesome prayer
beginning her service to hungry
poor as he began to lechers serve
wills strong as steel or thorny roses
no family or authority could oppose
or endure except in little doses
wrapped in protective contemplation
raw, Francis and Clare saw torn
seeking souls of every human shorn
moving about on hazy morns forlorn
to bereaved and downtrodden these
empathics stripped every heavy burden
their own tender sure fingers never touching
sorrowful places they treaded ahead
sainthood fibres rising, wanting nothing
less than God Himself as others
desired fame and fortune diluted
or polluted, soul twins saw no difference
between rich and poor, all sufferance
her only longing before he or she passed
into a fair dove nest upstairs was for
an earthly meal with her beloved ragged
Monk, breathing in Rose of Sharon
would that her wish be granted the
Brothers Franciscan begged, but his
severity would not accede longing plead
the Brothers remonstrated some more
and more declaring that Clare had forsaken
all worldly wishes because of his preaching
he yielded eventually for a tiny feast before church of Santa Maria the one which
hosted her noble body when fast fleeing
day dawned fresh for herb and
vegetable salad, bread and water laid
on bare ground before which her
salutations to Mother Mary was complete
made as heavens granted her ardent bleat
Francis too overcome by the Lord’s
bounty when seeing a first bright dish
fell in overwhelming prayer of thanksgiving
golden light streamed pink-blue circled
sight and setting like tornado fire became
~ the people of Assissi looked down in
fearful hush then rushing to holy portico
to extinguish roaring fire blushed
all they found were twin flame saints
with rapt companions in contemplation
of Glory of God seeping
gloria hallelujah
©GhairoDanielsPoetry2025
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