#Poetry ‘They Say I’m A Fool’ by Fiza Pathan

They Say I’m A Fool

By Fiza Pathan

They say I’m a fool to have followed you

Leaving my mansion and earthly goods.

They say I’m a fool to wish that I,

Could be so poor just like you.

They say I’m a fool to ask for your love

When it’s true that your affection is for heaven

And mine, is only for you and our heavenly groom.

They say I’m a fool to starve myself

On crusts of stale bread and mud.

But I’ll do anything to be

As pure as the moon.

They say I’m a fool to weep

When I see your scarred hands

And your bleeding side,

Taking away your youth ever so soon.

They say I’m a fool to cloister myself in poverty

Lurking over the words of grace

Where the road to Calvary looms.

They say I’m a fool to have

Cut off my long golden hair

To be used as an offering to a pyre

That was blessed by your hands that warm night in June.

They say I’m a fool to whip myself

When I saw the puss blind away your sight

Though for you, it was a sort of heavenly boon.

But dearest Francesco, let them say what they may

For in my eyes there is only one red rose in bloom

Which bleeds forever all days and nights,

Up in this small cloister…..your Clara so poor.

p.s. This poem is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi

and his saintly counterpart Saint Clara of Assisi

who followed in Saint Francis’ footsteps

of holy poverty, holy chastity and holy obedience