The Saga of Notre Dame

April 16, 2019·

But Soft, What Light

A simple mistake, we’ll never know

A few hours later, and a fire’s glow

A grand old church, a famous name

The chapel in France called Notre Dame

A fire that raged all through the night

Lit from within, the windows alight

The Windows Rose from long ago

Now threatened by a fire’s glow.

And all of France rushed to the scene

Their goal, save all that saved could be

A grand old Church built long ago

Lit from within by dread fire’s glow.

They fought and sweated all night long

While Frenchmen cheered in speech and song

To save the church from long ago

From fire’s deadly, ash-choked glow.

And dawn returned, as all dawns must,

And Frenchmen peering through ash and dust

For just one glimpse of the Windows Rose

That fire threatened by midnight’s glow.

And lo, the sun’s first rays do show

Not one or two of the Windows Rose

All three survive, and now the tears flow

The sun shines bright, and the Windows glow.

April 16, 2020 ·

And Now, the Sound

A simple mistake, we'll never know

Caused hours of fear, a year ago

A grand old church, a famous nom

The chapel in France called Notre Dame

A fire that raged all through the night

lit from within, the windows alight

The Windows Rose from long ago

Were threatened by a fire's glow.

And all of France rushed to the scene

Their goal, save all that saved could be

A grand old Church built long ago

Lit from within by dread fire’s glow.

They fought and sweated all night long

While Frenchmen cheered in speech and song

To save the church from long ago

From fire’s deadly, ash-choked glow.

And lo, the sun’s first rays did show

Not one or two of the Windows Rose

All three survive, and the tears did flow

The sun shines bright, and the Windows glow.

And one year later, 'midst plague we see

the streets are empty, as they should be

But some few come to mark the day

of a year ago when the world did pray

and today, the bells ring out to mark

the Church and nation against the Dark

they survived the fire, they'll survive the plague

they survive no matter how dark the day

and the Church that looks the centuries down

stands in the middle of Paris town

with the Windows Rose lit by sun's glow

and the bells ring out, and onward France goes.

May 27, 2021·

And Next, The Trees

Two years it’s been, since that dread night

When fire set Notre Dame alight

France sang and prayed two years ago

Through fire’s deadly, ash-choked glow.

And dawn returned, as all dawns must

And Frenchmen peered through ash and dust

For just one glimpse of the Windows Rose

That fire threatened by midnight’s glow.

And lo, the sun’s first rays did show

Not one or two of the Windows Rose

All three survived, and the tears did flow

The sun shone bright, and the Windows glowed.

And one year later, ‘mid plague we see

The streets were empty, as they should be

But some few came to mark the day

Of a year before, when the world did pray

And the Bells rang out that day to mark

The Church and nation, against the Dark

They survived the fire, they survive the plague

They survive no matter how dark the day

And the Church, looking the centuries down

Standing in middle of Paris town

With the Windows Rose lit by sun’s glow

And the bells rang out, and onward France goes.

But listen, my children, and you shall hear

Of trees that were planted many a year

Before that night, when the spire fell

So listen, good people, and let me tell

Those trees were planted, ‘gainst day of need

And many years later, are needed indeed

For France rebuilds the Notre Dame

But not with steel; no, not at all

They build the Church in the same way

They built it then, and again today

With wood and craft and loving care

Till spire arises into the air

And a day will dawn, as dawn it must

And Frenchmen will peer through craftsmen’s dust

At a grand old church, a famous nom

The chapel in France called Notre Dame

No trace of fire will there be found

And all of Paris will hear the sound

Of bells to mark the joyous way

Of A Church reborn, again that day

And Frenchmen will cheer in speech and song

A fire survived, of a right once wronged

Notre Dame reopens, the sun’s arose

And shines again on the Windows Rose.