Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SAINT FRANCIS AND THE WOLF, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: This wolf for many a day
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Francis Assisi, Saint (1181-1226); Saints


This wolf for many a day
This wolf for many a day
Had scourged and trodden down
Had scourged and trodden down
The folk of Agobio town;
The folk of Agobio town;
Old was he, lean and gray.
Old was he, lean and grey.
Dragging a mildewed bone,

Down from his lair he came,

Saw in the sunset flame
Dragging a mildewed bone,
Our father standing alone.
Down from his lair he came,
Dust on his threadbare gown,
Saw in the sunset flame
Dust on his blessed feet,
Our father standing alone.
Faint from long fast and heat,

His light of life died down.

This wolf laid bare his teeth,
Dust on his threadbare gown,
And growling low there stood;
Dust on his blessed feet,
His lips were black with blood,
Faint from long fast and heat,
His eyes were fires of death.
His light of life died down.
So for a spring crouched he;

But the Saint raised his head-

Peace, Brother Wolf, he said,
This wolf laid bare his teeth,
God made both thee and me.
And growling low there stood;
And with the Cross signed him:
His lips were black with blood,
The wolf fell back a-stare,
His eyes were fires of death.
Sat on his haunches there,

Forbidding, black, and grim.

Come nearer, in Christ's name,
So for a spring crouched he;
Said Francis, and, so bid,
But the Saint raised his head-
Like a small dog that's chid,
"Peace, Brother Wolf," he said,
The fierce beast fawning came,
"God made both thee and me."
Trotting against his side,

And licked the tender hand

That with soft touch and bland
And with the Cross signed him:
Caressed his wicked hide.
The wolf fell back a-stare,
Brother, the Saint said then,
Sat on his haunches there,
Who gave thee leave to kill?
Forbidding, black, and grim.
Thou hast slain of thine own will

Not only beasts but men.

And God is wroth with thee:
"Come nearer, in Christ's Name,"
If thou wilt not repent
Said Francis, and, so bid,
His anger shall be sent
Like a small dog that's chid,
To smite thee terribly.
The fierce beast fawning came,
See, all men hate thy name,

And with it mothers fright

The froward child by night:
Trotting against his side,
Great are thy sin and shame.
And licked the tender hand
All true dogs thee pursue;
That with soft touch and bland
Thou shouldst hang high in air,
Caressed his wicked hide.
Like a thief and murderer,

Hadst thou thy lawful due.

Yet, seeing his hands have made
"Brother," the Saint said then,
Even thee, thou wicked one,
"Who gave thee leave to kill?
I bring no malison,
Thou hast slain of thine own will
But blessing bring instead.
Not only beasts but men.
And I will purchase peace

Between this folk and thee,

So love for hate shall be,
"And God is wroth with thee:
And all thy sinning cease.
If thou wilt not repent,
Say, wilt thou have it so?
His anger shall be sent
Thereat, far off, we saw
To smite thee terribly.
The beast lift up his paw

His tail a-wagging go.

Our father took the paw
"See, all men hate thy name,
Into his blessed hand,
And with it mothers fright
Knelt down upon the sand
The froward child by night:
Facing the creature's jaw.
Great are thy sin and shame.
That was a sight to see:

Agobio's folk trooped out;

They heard not all that rout,
"All true dogs thee pursue;
Neither the beast nor he.
Thou shouldst hang high in air,
For he was praying yet,
Like a thief and murderer,
And on his illumined face
Hadst thou thy lawful due.
A shamed and loving gaze

The terrible wolf had set.

When they came through the town,
"Yet, seeing His hands have made
His hand that beast did stroke,
Even thee, thou wicked one,
He spake unto the folk
I bring no malison,
Flocking to touch his gown.
But blessing bring instead.
A sweet discourse was this:

He prayed them that they make

Peace, for the Lord Christ's sake,
"And I will purchase peace
With this poor wolf of His;
Between this folk and thee,
And told them of their sins,
So love for hate shall be,
How each was deadlier far
And all thy sinning cease.
Than wolves or lions are,

Or sharks with sword-like fins.

Afterwards some came near,
"Say, wilt thou have it so?"
Took the beast's paw and shook,
Thereat, far off, we saw
And answered his sad look
The beast lift up his paw,
With words of honest cheer.
His great tail wagging go.
Our father, ere he went,

Bade that each one should leave

Some food at morn and eve
Our father took the paw
For his poor penitent.
Into his blessed hand,
And so, three years or more,
Knelt down upon the sand
The wolf came morn and even,
Facing the creature's jaw.
Yea, long forgiven and shriven,

Fed at each townsman's door;

And grew more gray and old,
That were a sight to see:
Withal so sad and mild,
Agobio's folk trooped out;
Him feared no little child
They heard not all that rout,
Sitting in the sun's gold.
Neither the beast nor he.
The women, soft of heart,

Trusted him and were kind;

Men grew of equal mind;
For he was praying yet,
None longer stepped apart.
And on his illumined face
The very dogs, 'twas said,
A shamed and loving gaze
Would greet him courteously,
The terrible wolf had set.
And pass his portion by,

Though they went on unfed.

But when three years were gone
When they came through the town,
He came no more, but died.
His hand that beast did stroke,
In a cave on the hillside;
He spake unto the folk
You may count each whitening bone.
Flocking to touch his gown.
And then it came to pass

All gently of him spake,

For Francis his dear sake,
A sweet discourse was this:
Whose Brother Wolf this was.
He prayed them that they make

Peace, for the Lord Christ's sake,

With this poor wolf of His;


And told them of their sins,
How each was deadlier far
Than wolves or lions are,
Or sharks with sword-like fins.


Afterwards some came near,
Took the beast's paw and shook,
And answered his sad look
With words of honest cheer.


Our father, ere he went,
Bade that each one should leave
Some food at morn and eve
For his poor penitent.


And so, three years or more,
The wolf came morn and even,
Yea, long forgiven and shriven,
Fed at each townsman's door;


And grew more grey and old,
Withal so sad and mild,
Him feared no little child
Sitting in the sun's gold.


The women, soft of heart,
Trusted him and were kind;
Men grew of equal mind,
None longer stepped apart.


The very dogs, 'twas said,
Would greet him courteously,
And pass his portion by,
Though they went on unfed.


But when three years were gone
He came no more, but died
In a cave on the hillside;
You may count each whitening bone.


And then it came to pass
All gently of him spake,
For Francis his dear sake,
Whose Brother Wolf this was.






Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net